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MCKINZIE Set For Big Weekend in Saratoga Grade 1s

Stallion has four Grade 1 runners between Friday and Saturday Saratoga races.

June 5, 2025

As MCKINZIE’s first crop enters June of its 3-year-old season, his runners are showing last year’s successes were just the beginning of a rising superstar’s legacy.

In 2024, MCKINZIE led all North American sires by number of 2-year-old Grade 1 winners and Grade 1 stakes performers with his two Grade 1 winners leading the way for four Grade 1 performers. That momentum has carried to 2025, where he is currently leading all second crop sires by number of Grade 1 horses this year as well. His number of Grade 1 horses in 2025 is also third behind only Into Mischief and Medaglia d’Oro.

To put his numbers in perspective, his first crop of runners has produced more Grade 1 performers (5) than runners hailing from the 2022 crops of Into Mischief (3), Medaglia d’Oro (3), Nyquist (3), his own legendary studmate TAPIT (2), and Curlin (2).

He’s also had the best start in generations for his sireline by Grade 1 performers.

His own sire Street Sense sired two Grade 1 performers at this point in his career with no Grade 1 winners. Grandsire Street Cry’s only Grade 1 performer going into the Belmont was the aforementioned Street Sense while MCKINZIE’s great grandsire also only had one Grade 1 performer in Group 1 winner Vettori.

It is also worth noting that his 4.5% Grade 1 performers to starters gives him a higher percentage than Mr. Prospector had on June 5 of his second-crop year with that stallion having 4.17% Grade 1 horses.

MCKINZIE has even more chances to add to his burgeoning reputation this weekend with the stallion having four Grade 1 entries at Saratoga on Friday and Saturday.

The headliner is, of course, Kentucky Derby (G1) third place finisher Baeza in the Belmont S. (G1).

That colt made an exciting late run in the Kentucky Derby almost exactly a month ago and is set for a rematch with the two who finished ahead of him also running in the classic. A Keeneland September session topper, Baeza won’t just become MCKINZIE’s first classic winner if he wins the Belmont, but also his dam’s third straight classic winner.

But before we get to the Belmont on Saturday, MCKINZIE has two daughters seeking a win in the Acorn S. (G1).

Scottish Lassie was arguably one of the most impressive 2-year-old Grade 1 winners in 2024 and is making her second start of 2025 in the Acorn. The filly romped in last October’s Frizette S. (G1) with a nine-length victory and saw the third placed runner finish 15 ½ lengths back of her at the line. She then went to finish fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), 9 ¼ lengths ahead of the fifth-place runner.

Quickick placed in both last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) and Alcibiades S. (G1) with her Breeders’ Cup third place finish giving MCKINZIE the third and fourth place runners. She is looking for her first Grade 1 victory in this race. The filly is very familiar with Saratoga after breaking her maiden by 2 ½ lengths in a Saratoga Maiden Special Weight last year.

MCKINZIE’s dual Grade 1 winner and Eclipse Award finalist Chancer McPatrick rounds out his Grade 1 runners this weekend with a Woody Stephens (G1) entry.

Chancer McPatrick is returning to the scene of his first two wins after breaking his maiden on debut here over fellow Woody Stephens runner T Kraft, Pennine Ridge (G3) runner Noble Confessor, and Louisiana Derby (G2) winner Tiztastic.

One start later, the colt won the Hopeful S. (G1) to end the Saratoga meet. He rounded out his three-race win streak with a victory in the Champagne S. (G1) in October.

MCKINZIE’s Grade 1 runners are four of six runners he has in this weekend’s stakes across the country.