After a year that saw him win two consecutive Grade 1 contests and three graded stakes overall while earning $1,407,220, Mindframe has been named the Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred/The Racing Biz Top Midlantic-bred of 2025.
Mindframe, a 4-year-old in 2025, was the only older horse based in the U. S. to win two Grade 1 races on dirt. He took the seven-furlong Churchill Downs Stakes in a four-horse photo in May and the mile and an eighth Stephen Foster eight weeks later, the latter by a length over Sierra Leone.
After losing rider Irad Ortiz Jr. at the start of the Jockey Club Gold Cup-G1 at Saratoga in August, Mindframe would finish fifth in his final start, the Breeders' Cup Classic-G1.
Runner-up for top Midlantic-bred honors was Book'em Danno. The New Jersey-bred gelding won three graded stakes in 2025 and earned the Eclipse Award as champion sprinter. The son of Bucchero is trained by Derek Ryan for Atlantic Six Racing and became the first horse to finish second in the voting in consecutive years.
Maryland-bred Splendora, an Eclipse Award finalist in two categories, was third in the voting after winning the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, while another Maryland-bred Grade 1 winner, Seismic Beauty, was fourth. In all, six of the top 10 won at least one graded stakes.
"It was a remarkable season for horses bred in the Mid-Atlantic," said Frank Vespe, owner and publisher of The Racing Biz. "With four Grade 1 winners and an Eclipse Award champion to choose from, our voters had a tough task, but Mindframe proved himself a deserving winner after another stellar campaign."
"With seven of the top 10 Mid--Alantic-breds, it was a banner year for Maryland-breds," added Cricket Goodall, executive director of the Maryland Horse Breeders Association, which publishes Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred.
"It's exciting for all of us in this industry to see such great horses from our region go out and compete at the highest levels."
Maryland-bred Mindframe will stand at Claiborne Farm in Kentucky, the farm announced in the summer, taking over the farm's coveted first stall, past home to Bold Ruler, Secretariat, Easy Goer and Unbridled.
"It's the pinnacle of my dad's breeding success, and to see it happen, to see him reach what he reached, it's mind-boggling. That's what my dad always dreamed of. It's pretty surreal," said Tracy Mulroy, daughter of the late R. Larry Johnson, Mindframe's breeder. "It's a dream, it's just an absolute dream."
Larry Johnson passed away early in 2025. He also bred Future Is Now, who won two graded stakes in 2025 and finished sixth in the final voting. Both stem from the same family dating back 40 years to Johnson's initial forays into breeding with a mare named Ran's Chick.
Mindframe, a son of Constitution out of the stakes-winning Street Sense mare Walk of Stars, was sold by his breeder at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, through the Betz Thoroughbreds consignment, for $600,000 to Mike Repole's Repole Stable and Vinnie Viola's St. Elias Stables. He was conditioned by Todd Pletcher.
"Mindframe has an undeniable presence about him. He is strong, powerful, athletic, and intelligent and most of all, he truly loved his job," said Danielle Bricker, assistant racing manager of Repole Stable. "He trained like a monster, his strength was impossible to ignore. He was one of those horses people would simply stop and stare at as he went past."
Mulroy hinted that Legacy Farm will continue to support Mindframe's own legacy in the Mid-Atlantic in his next career, sending mares to breed to him for this year.
"We are breeding two horses to him this year, which is just a complete full-circle moment that my dad bred this horse," said Mulroy. "Now we're bringing two mares to him, and we are gonna have two baby Mindframes. It's really cool."
Bricker also confirmed that Repole Stable is incredibly excited for Mindframe's next chapter at stud in Kentucky, sending mares to him this year as well.
"He is everything you want in a racehorse, great size, an excellent physicality, and proven versatility across distances. All of these qualities make him extremely appealing to breeders," Bricker said. "Repole will be supporting Mindframe with some of his own mares, and we are all eager to see his first foals. We're truly looking forward to a bright future for Mindframe."
Mindframe retires from the racetrack with five wins from nine starts, finishing second twice. In 2024, he ran second in the Grade 1 Belmont and Haskell Stakes. He retired with a total bankroll of $2,054,580.
The February issue of Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred will have profiles of what comes next for several Top Midlantic-bred horses.
Seven of the top 10 were bred in Maryland, while two were bred in Pennsylvania and one in New Jersey. Five were males and five were females.
TOP MIDLANTIC-BREDS OF 2025:
1. Mindframe (MD), 4C by Constitution--Walk of Stars, by Street Sense; bred by R. Larry Johnson and trained by Todd Pletcher for Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables LLC. 2025 highlights: Won Churchill Downs-G1, Stephen Foster S-G1, Gulfstream Park Mile-G1; 5th Breeders' Cup Classic-G1.
2. Book'em Danno (NJ), 4G by Bucchero--Adorabella, by Ghostzapper; bred by Gregory J. Kilka and Bright View Farm and trained by Derek Ryan for Atlantic Six Racing LLC. 2025 highlights: Won Forego S-G1, Alfred G. Vanderbilt S-G2, True North S-G3; 4th Churchill Downs-G1.
3. Splendora (MD), 4F by Audible--Miss Freeze, by Frost Giant; bred by The Elkstone Group LLC and trained by Bob Baffert for By Talla Racing LLC. 2025 highlights: Won Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint-G1, Tranquility Lake S; 2nd Santa Margarita-G2, Santa Maria S-G2.
4. Seismic Beauty (MD), 4F by Uncle Mo--Knarsdale, by Medaglia d'Oro; bred by 2500 Determined Stud and trained by Bob Baffert for MyRacehorse and Peter Leidel. 2025 highlights: Won Clement L. Hirsch S-G1, Santa Margarita S-G2; started as favorite in the Breeders' Cup Distaff-G1.
5. Barbadian Runner (MD), 3G by Barbados--Quiet Run, by Northern Afleet; bred by Shamrock Farm and trained by Henry Walters for AJ Will Win Stables LLC. 2025 highlights: Won Robert Hilton Memorial S, Maryland Million Classic, Richard W. Small S, Jersey Derby, Spectacular Bid S, Miracle Wood S; 2nd Delaware Derby, Robert T. Manfuso S, Star De Naskra S, Petramalo Mile S.
6. Future Is Now (MD), 5M by Great Notion--Past as Prelude, by Bernardini; bred by R. Larry Johnson and trained by Michael Trombetta for Estate of R. Larry Johnson. 2025 highlights: Won Caress S-G3, Giant's Causeway S-G3, Smart and Fancy S; 2nd Intercontinental S-G2.
7. Post Time (MD), 5H by Frosted--Vielsalm, by Fairbanks; bred by Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Bowman, Dr. Brooke Bowman and Milton P. Higgins III and trained by Brittany Russell for Hillwood Stable LLC. 2025 highlights: Won Deputed Testamony S, Robert T. Manfuso S, Polynesian S, Robert T. Manfuso S; 2nd Maryland Million Classic; 3rd Woodward S-G2, Blame S-G3.
8. Simply Joking (PA), 3F by Practical Joke--Imply, by E Dubai; bred by Barlar LLC and trained by Whit Beckman for Grantley Acres, Ryan Conner and Berkels0813. 2025 highlights: Won Silverbulletday S; 2nd Fantasy S-G2, Bayakoa S-G3; 3rd La Brea S-G1.
9. Kappa Kappa (PA), 3F by Omaha Beach--Pharoah's Princess, by Pioneerof the Nile; bred by Stone Jug Ranch LLC and trained by Robert Reid Jr. for LC Racing LLC, Cash Is King LLC and Wellesley Stable. 2025 highlights: Won Raven Run S-G2.
10. Quint's Brew (MD), 4G by Mosler--Gansett, by Jump Start; bred by Paul W. Berube, Karen Linnell and Spinnaker Hill Farm and trained by Ned Allard for Paul W. Berube, Karen Linnell and Heather Hunter. 2025 highlights: Won General George S, Jennings S; 2nd Carter S-G2, Westchester S-G3, Howard and Sondra Bender S.
Others receiving votes: Slam Notion, Teachintherelease, Maskedandmummed, Maximus Meridius, Keys Discount, Just Philtored, Slewperstitus.
