It is hard for the mind to comprehend the change in Mad House.
Ten months ago, he was winless in five starts and coming off a fifth-place finish in a maiden race at Canterbury Park. Now, he's 6-for-12 and a dual graded stakes winner with earnings of $603,015 for owner James Thares.
The extent of his turnaround was on display April 11 in the $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) at Oaklawn Park when the speedball turned back an extended pace-pressing bid from favored Roll On Big Joe to notch a half-length victory. The winner threw down splits of :21.99 and :45.12 in the 6-furlong race en route to stopping the clock in 1:08.93 under Paco Lopez. He paid $20.20 to win.
Roll On Big Joe appeared to poke his head in front of Mad House between calls in the stretch, but was turned aside by the resolute Mad House.
Dreaminblue rallied for third, while never a threat to the top two.
David VanWinkle trains Mad House, a 4-year-old gelding by Vekoma out of the Munnings mare Stifled Heiress. Jean White, Wavertree Farm, and SGV Thoroughbreds bred him in Florida, and Thares purchased the horse for $47,000 in 2024 from the Wavertree Stables consignment at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training.
👏 Winning trainer David Vanwinkle spoke with @ashley_mailloux after the victory by MAD HOUSE in the Count Fleet Sprint. pic.twitter.com/QOFxSQLxJo
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) April 11, 2026
Mad House is the third stakes winner of 2026 for Vekoma, who stands for $100,000 at Spendthrift Farm in Kentucky.
