January 18, 2025 - Fair Grounds, Race 7, Msw, USD $60,000, 1 1/16M
Hypnus, C, 3, 2022 by Into Mischief
1st Dam: Dream Tree, by Uncle Mo
2nd Dam: Afleet Maggi, by Afleet Alex
3rd Dam: Mindset, by Coronado's Quest
Owner: Brookdale Racing, Inc
Breeder: Phoenix Thoroughbreds (III) LTD (KY)
Trainer: Kenneth G. McPeek
Hypnus (c, 3, Into Mischief–Dream Tree, by Uncle Mo) became the 48th 'TDN Rising Star' for his superstar sire with an impressive debut victory around two turns in the slop on the GIII Lecomte Stakes undercard at Fair Grounds Saturday.
Overlooked at 16-1 for trainer Kenny McPeek, he broke sharply beneath Brian Hernandez, Jr., but was content to slot into sixth through fractions of :23.30 and :47.76. Traveling nicely but still with plenty to do approaching the quarter pole, he hit the gas at the top of the stretch and leveled off beautifully from there to win going away by 2 1/2 lengths over favored Cromwell (Quality Road).
The winner's talented dam Dream Tree won her first five career starts, led by a win in the 2017 GI Starlet Stakes. Dream Tree is also responsible for a 2-year-old filly by Gun Runner, who RNA'd for $575,000 at last year's Keeneland September Yearling sale. Dream Tree was bred to Constitution for 2025. Hypnus is bred on the same Into Mischief x Indian Charlie cross as GISW and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies runner-up Dayoutoftheoffice.