Highly Motivated

Into Mischief - Strong Incentive

2018 - Bay - 16.2 Hands

2026 Fee: $7,500 S&N

2x track record-setter by Into Mischief. From the proven G1SW family of Surge Capacity & Ways And Means

Highly Motivated’s first weanlings were offered at the November breeding stock sales and include a colt that brought $100,000.
WAYS AND MEANS earned her G1 in the Test Stakes at Saratoga on 8/3/24. Highly Motivated now has two half-sisters that are Grade One winners.
Half-sister Ways and Means made her first start in nearly 7 months a tough one, finishing second in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) on 3/30/24.
Strong Incentive, the dam of Highly Motivated sold at the Fasig-Tipton November 2023 sale for $2,150,000, in foal to Good Magic. She was purchased by Alpha Delta Stables.
This pedigree only continues to get better. Since Highly Motivated’s retirement, the 3yo half sister, SURGE CAPACITY, has won the Matriarch (G1), Valley View Stakes (G3), Lake George Stakes (G3) and finished 2nd in the Lake Placid Stakes (G2) in 2023. Additionally, the 2yo half sister, Ways and Means won her first start and was named a TDN Rising Star for that effort. She followed her win up with a 2nd place finish in the Spinaway Stakes (G1) at Saratoga.
First foals will be on the ground in 2024.
“Highly Motivated was the best colt in our barn at 2 and 3 and ran Grade 1-winning numbers at both ages,” said trainer Chad Brown. “He’s a two-time track record-setter by one of the best stallions in the world. In my opinion, there’s not a ceiling on his potential at stud.”
Two-time track record-setter by the great Into Mischief
Purchased as a weanling by Mike Ryan: “I thought he was the best Into Mischief in the sale.”
Defeated Grade 1 winner Known Agenda breaking his maiden at Belmont Park at 2.
Dominant winner of the Nyquist Stakes on the Breeders’ Cup undercard; setting the Keeneland track record of 6 ½ furlongs in 1:14 4. His 96 Beyer speed figure was second to only Jackie’s Warrior as the highest juvenile figure of 2020.
A hard-fought second by just a short neck to two-time Eclipse Award Champion Essential Quality when stretching out to 1 1/8 in the Grade 2 Toyota Bluegrass Stakes.
At 4, effortless winner of the Grade 3 Monmouth Cup. His time of 1:46.2 for the 1 1/8 broke the 37-year-old track record held by Kentucky Derby winner and Horse of the Year Spend a Buck.

Showcase Race Video

Race Record

Age	Starts	Firsts	Seconds	Thirds	Earnings
4	4	2	1	0	$347,375
3	3	0	1	1	$196,000
2	3	2	1	0	$124,050
Total	10	4	3	1	$667,375

Racing Highlights

Won at 2

Won a deep Maiden Special Weight at Belmont Park
Won the Nyquist Stakes in track record time at Keeneland by 4 ¼ lengths 3

2nd at 3

Grade 2 Bluegrass Stakes by a neck to Essential Quality

3rd at 3

Grade 3 Gotham Stakes

Won at 4

Grade 3 Monmouth Cup breaking the 37 year old track record set by Horse of the Year and Derby Winner Spend a Buck
Allowance at Belmont Park

2nd at 4

Grade 3 Philip H. Iselin Stakes

View the complete race record for Highly Motivated in Daily Racing Form Past Performance format below.

Highly Motivated

View DRF PP

Entries & Results

Pedigree: 5-Cross

Download the Catalog Style.

INTO MISCHIEF (USA) b. 2005	HARLAN’S HOLIDAY (USA) b. 1999	HARLAN (USA) dkb/br. 1989	STORM CAT (USA)
			COUNTRY ROMANCE (CAN)
		CHRISTMAS IN AIKEN (USA) b. 1992	AFFIRMED (USA)
			DOWAGER (USA)
	LESLIE’S LADY (USA)* b. 1996	TRICKY CREEK (USA) b. 1986	CLEVER TRICK (USA)
			BATTLE CREEK GIRL (USA)
		CRYSTAL LADY (CAN) b. 1990	STOP THE MUSIC (USA)
			ONE LAST BIRD (USA)
STRONG INCENTIVE (CAN) b. 2012	WARRIOR’S REWARD (USA) b. 2006	MEDAGLIA D’ORO (USA) dkb/br. 1999	EL PRADO (IRE)
			CAPPUCINO BAY (USA)
		FOR ALL YOU DO (USA) b. 1999	SEEKING THE GOLD (USA)
			SALINA COOKIE (USA)
	G. G.’S DOLLY (USA) b. 2002	COMIC STRIP (USA) dkb/br. 1995	RED RANSOM (USA)
			NOW THATS FUNNY (USA)
		PARFAIT (USA) b. 1996	KINGMAMBO (USA)
			MERINGUE PIE (USA)