BY LAURIE ROSS

Rogueish (Into Mischief – Verdana Bold, by Rahy) offers a complete profile, uniting pedigree and conformation in one compelling stallion.

Standing at Solera Farm, this son of seven-time champion sire Into Mischief combines commercial speed, physical substance and a female family rich in graded stakes class, making him an appealing option for Florida breeders focused on both performance and marketability. 

AT THE RACES

Campaigned by his breeders, Edward Seltzer, Beverly Anderson and Krista Seltzer, DVM, and conditioned by Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, Rogueish lived up to his pedigree in his lone start, a six-furlong maiden special weight at the Fair Grounds in November 2018. He drew off impressively to score by six-and-three-quarters lengths in 1:11 over a sloppy track, earning an eye-catching 101 Equibase Speed Figure, an exceptional number for a 2-year-old maiden winner.

PEDIGREE

That performance was no accident. Physically, Rogueish is a well-balanced individual, standing approximately 16 to 16.1 hands. He is a substantial individual who displays the muscular strength commonly associated with Into Mischief’s progeny, with especially powerful hindquarters and a well-shaped hip. His strength carries through his forearms and gaskins, giving him the athletic, durable look breeders seek.

Krista Selzer, DVM of Solarna Farm, describes Rogueish’s personality as an easy horse when he wants to be, noting that, “he can get into mischief and he thinks it’s funny until you call him down on it, then he’ll behave.” It’s a trait often found in intelligent horses, and one that adds to his appeal.

Seven-time champion sire Into Mischief needs no introduction as one of the most dominant modern sires in North America. With 36 sons currently standing across the continent, his influence is firmly positioned to continue for generations.

Rogueish is one of ten foals produced by Verdana Bold (Rahy–True Legacy, by A.P. Indy), a precocious runner who scored first out as a turf sprinter at Laurel Park. She returned as a 3-year-old to record consecutive stakes victories in the Listed Star Shoot and Selene Stakes (G3) on Woodbine’s synthetic and added placings in three additional Listed stakes. Verdana Bold retired with earnings of $331,297 from 14 starts. 

She quickly established herself as a black type producer, beginning with her first foal, Copperplate, and adding two stakes winners.

• Copperplate (Curlin) multiple listed stakes-placed sprinter over Polytrack who was in a dead heat for fourth, missing third by a half-length, in the Kennedy Road Stakes (G2). The durable gelding earned $2,221,527 in 46 starts.
• Lucrezia, Rogueish’s full sister, heroine of the Sandpiper and Suncoast Stakes, both at Tampa Bay Downs and was second in the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Park Oaks (Grade 2. She retired with $219640 in earnings after 9 starts.
• Ghalia (Medaglia d’Oro) captured the 2017 Sunland Park Oaks, won three of four starts, and earned $168,800. She is carrying on the family’s black type producing legacy as the dam of 2024 stakes-winner Ghalia Princess (American Pharoah), who dominated the six-furlong 2024 Cicada Stakes by six lengths and placed in the Ruthless Stakes, both at Aqueduct.

Verdana Bold is also a half-sister to Running Legacy (by Gun Runner), third in the 2022 Gulfstream Park Oaks, with both fillies produced from the unraced True Legacy (by A.P. Indy). 

The depth of class continues further back. Rogueish’s distaff line is filled with quality, beginning with his third dam, Grade 1-placed listed stakes winner Harbour Club (Danzig), who also set new track record for six furlongs in 1:09.56 at Sportsman’s Park in the Listed Marion H. Van Berg Memorial Stakes. 

While only her son Holzmeister (Woodman) earned black type as a Grade 3-placed, multiple Listed stakes winner, the mares have continued to produce at a high level. 

That line includes 2009 Princess Rooney Handicap (G1)-winner Game Face (Menifee), 2021 Barbara Fritchie Stakes (G3)-heroine Hibiscus Punch (Into Mischief), and 2022 Rachael Alexandra Stakes (G2)-winner Turnerloose (Nyquist).

Rogueish’s damsire Rahy, a proven Classic influence and elite broodmare sire, injects stamina, soundness and mental composure into the pedigree, helping balance and stabilize the speed inherited from the sire line. His presence shifts the overall profile away from pure sprinting brilliance and high-end sprint to miler and middle-distance versatility, particularly effective from six to eight furlongs.

STUD CAREER

Now in his fifth year at stud, Rogueish is the only son of Into Mischief standing in Florida to currently have offspring on the track. 

Krista Seltzer notes that Rogueish, “puts more size than what I would typically expect from his dam’s side, which is great. He also adds a good hip to his offspring and they look fast.” 

Seltzer adds, “They all seem to be pretty talented and pretty easy to work with. They [are] stakes winners on both the turf and the dirt. But they’ve won on all surfaces, so they’re really versatile.”

Off the back of an impressive 2023 Ocala Breeders’ Sales, highlighted by a $91,667 average for his 2-year-olds in training, Rogueish quickly proved that his appeal extended beyond the sales ring and onto the racetrack.

As of January 2026, from 72 foals of racing age, the stallion has sired 27 starters, 16 winners, and two stakes winners: 

• Naughty Rascal, winner of the 2025 $92,500 Pasco Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.
• Rouki, winner of the 2025 Turf Dash Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. Rouki’s dam, Kizuna, shares the third dam, Harbour Club, with Rogueish.

 

Rogueish offers elite speed supported by enough Classic influence to avoid being one-dimensional, giving breeders a stallion capable of delivering both performance and versatility. From an eye-catching debut on the racetrack to a fast-starting stud career already producing winners and stakes horses, he continues to build momentum where it matters most, at the sales and on the track.

Rogueish stands the 2026 season for $3,500 stands and nurses.

Return to the January 13 issue of Wire to Wire