2020 ended with a bang for Mehmas when his daughter Quattroelle won the Blue Norther Stakes at Santa Anita to become his fifth stakes winner of the year.
Irish-bred Quattroelle is one of a record 56 first-crop winners for her sire, who ends the year as the leading first-crop sire in both Britain and Ireland and across Europe by number of winners and prize-money.
Quattroelle was sold to continue her career in California after running third on debut for Kevin Thomas Coleman at Navan. She went on to break her maiden at Santa Anita before running an unlucky third in the G3 Jimmy Durante Stakes.
Again partnered by Tyler Baze in the Blue Norther, Quattroelle (pictured below; photo courtesy of Santa Anita Park) showed an impressive turn of foot to run down the pacesetter Michalska and then hold off the challenge of Javanica to win well.
"She's a nice filly," said Baze. "I don't know how good she is, she is just very nice. She still has a lot of learning. Once I hit the lead, she was pulling herself up all the way down the lane, really just having fun."
Campaigned by Red Baron's Barn, LLC and Rancho Temescal, LLC, Quattroelle now boasts earnings of close to $100,000.
"She ran great and we weren't surprised," said trainer Jeff Mullins. "She got knocked sideways real bad last time at Del Mar and she should have won. She's a real hard trying filly and she's done everything we've asked her."
Quattroelle was bred by Rossenarra Stud out of Heavenly River, a placed Stormy River half-sister to the Listed-winning two-year-old Katie's Diamond.
Mehmas' remarkable season also includes the unbeaten G1 Middle Park Stakes winner Supremacy, G2 Gimcrack Stakes scorer Minzaal and Listed winners Acklam Express and Method. With 56 2yo winners to his credit, he sits only behind Kodiac as the most successful 2yo sire of all time, and ahead of Japanese greats Deep Impact and Sunday Silence.
Mehmas will stand for €25,000 in 2021.
