BY AVALYN HUNTER

Sons of five-time American champion sire Into Mischief are a hot commodity, especially well-conformed sons that have Grade 1 wins on their resume. Such is the case for Pleasant Acres’ first-year stallion Doppelganger. Noted for his physical resemblance to 2020 Horse of the Year Authentic (another son of Into Mischief), he checks off the boxes for what most breeders want to see in a young stallion.

After breaking his maiden with an eye-catching performance in a six-furlong maiden special weight at Los Alamitos on December 11, 2021, Doppelganger went through a frustrating series of six consecutive losses as a three-year-old (which included two graded stakes placings) before hitting his stride again at four. That year, he won four of his six starts, including a signature win in the Carter Handicap Presented by NYRA Bets (G1). He retired at the end of the 2023 season having won five of 13 starts for earnings of $554,900.

A $570,000 yearling from the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearlings Showcase, Doppelganger is bred on the same cross of Into Mischief over Fappiano-line mares that produced 2019 champion female sprinter and champion three-year-old filly Covfefe, 2021 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1)-winner Mandaloun and 2022 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (G1)-winner Gina Romantica. He is the third winner from four named foals of racing age for Grade 2-placed stakes winner Twice the Lady, a daughter of the fine miler and sire Quiet American (by Fappiano) and a half-sister to two other stakes producers.

Twice the Lady, in turn, is out of the Chief’s Crown mare Catherine’s Crown, a half-sister to Group 2 winner Midnight Bet (by Housebuster) and to multiple listed stakes winner Blushing Katy (by Blushing Groom). The dam of Catherine’s Crown, the Grey Dawn II mare Catherine’s Bet, won the 1979 Firenze Handicap (G2) and is a half-sister to multiple listed stakes winner Mawathik (by Topsider).

“We are proud to offer a Grade 1-winning son of Into Mischief to our breeders in Florida,” says Pleasant Acres’ Director of Stallion Services, Christine Jones. “Doppelganger was a TDN Rising Star on debut and is out of a stakes-winning, multiple graded stakes-placed daughter of Quiet American. Second in the San Felipe Stakes (G2), he went on to win the Grade 1 Carter Handicap and was a top-level winner at two, three, and four. He is truly in a class of his own.”

Doppelganger is standing the 2024 season for $10,000 live foal.

Return to the April 23 issue of Wire to Wire