from Thoroughbred Times:

Grade 1 winner Into Mischief probably will be retired from racing following the $250,000 Malibu Stakes (G1) on Friday, the opening day of Santa Anita Park’s 84-day winter/spring meeting.

B. Wayne Hughes owns Into Mischief and plans to stand the Harlan’s Holiday colt for the 2009 breeding season at his Spendthrift Farm in Lexington for an advertised stud fee of $12,500.

“This could be his last race. There are plans for him to go to stud right after the race,” trainer Richard Mandella said. “The colt will go to Spendthrift Farm. Mr. Hughes lives on that farm now and he sees that pretty stallion barn with not enough horses in it, and he wants to get some in there.”

Into Mischief concluded his juvenile campaign with his first graded stakes victory in the 2007 CashCall Futurity (G1) at Hollywood Park. The three-year-old colt enters the Malibu off a two-length win in the Damascus Stakes, a seven-furlong race on October 25 during the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita Park.

“He ran well in the Damascus and that was at seven furlongs, so we’re coming back to try it again in the Malibu,” Mandella said. “I expect he’ll run pretty good.”

Victor Espinoza, who has ridden Into Mischief in all five of the colt’s career starts, has the return call on Friday.

“He always gives his best,” Espinoza said. “He’s got a big heart. He’s very consistent and wants to run.”

The Malibu drew a field of seven that includes multiple Grade 1 winner Colonel John, Grade 1 winner Georgie Boy, Grade 2 winner Golden Spikes, and Grade 1-placed multiple stakes winner Bob Black Jack.

Colonel John has not started since posting a sixth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). A WinStar Farm homebred trained by Eoin Harty, Colonel John won the Travers Stakes Presented by Shadwell Farm (G1) on August 23 at Saratoga Race Course prior to running in the Breeders’ Cup.

“The Malibu is always a strong race,” Harty said. “But Colonel John is ready and I don’t think it’s going to be a problem for him.”

Georgie Boy finished fourth, 5 1/4 lengths behind Into Mischief, in the Damascus Stakes in his previous start. The Tribal Rule gelding opened his current campaign with consecutive wins at Santa Anita in the San Vicente Stakes (G2) on February 10 and the San Felipe Stakes (G2) on March 15.

Into Mischief finished second in the San Vicente, 3 1/4 lengths behind Georgie Boy. Kathy Walsh trains Georgie Boy for owner-breeder George Schwary.

Golden Spikes is winless in three starts since earning his first graded stakes victory in the Carry Back Stakes (G2) on July 12 at Calder Race Course. Trained by Marty Wolfson, Golden Spikes enters off a runner-up finish in the Radar Love Stakes on November 22 at Calder.

Its A Shame That He Only Has Had A Handful Of Starts And He Has Ability.

I've always loved this horse. Had him in the Hollywood Futurity last year @ 12/1. Shame to see him go so early.

Btw, i've never hear of a healthy 3yo being retired after the Malibu. Usually it's a starting-off point for the New Year, not a final start. Very strange...