LOUISVILLE, KY – In one of the most anticipated races of the year, Mindframe proved he belongs among racing’s elite with a gutsy one-length victory over Breeders’ Cup Classic champion Sierra Leone in the 44th running of the $1 million Stephen Foster (G1) at Churchill Downs.
The 4-year-old colt stopped the clock in 1:47.48 for 1 1/8 miles on a fast track, making it the fourth-fastest Stephen Foster in history—just shy of marks set by Victory Gallop (1999), Tom’s d’Etat (2020), and Fort Larned (2013).Ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. and trained by Todd Pletcher, Mindframe is owned by Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable, the latter headed by Florida Panthers owner Vinny Viola.
The win netted $552,420, boosting Mindframe’s career earnings to $1,844,580 from a 7-5-2-0 record. Sent off as the 9-5 favorite, he paid $5.76 to win, $3.34 to place, and $2.56 to show. Sierra Leone, the 2-1 second choice under Flavien Prat, rallied late for second and returned $3.06 and $2.34. First Mission, who set the pace, faded to third and paid $2.70 at odds of 5-2.
Kentucky Derby 150 winner Mystik Dan finished fourth by a neck, followed by Dubai World Cup victor Hit Showand longshot Ashcroft. Skippylongstocking was scratched.
From the jump, First Mission broke sharply from the rail and set early fractions of :23.94, :47.95, and 1:11.46 while Mindframe stalked just to his outside. Mystik Dan tracked inside in fourth, while Sierra Leone overcame a sluggish break to make a wide move around the far turn. At the top of the stretch, Mindframe engaged First Mission, with Mystik Dan angling inside and Sierra Leone surging three-wide. But in the final furlong, Mindframe dug in gamely to repel the late charge from Sierra Leone and hold firm to the wire.
“He broke really sharp last time sprinting but we figured today might be a different scenario,” Ortiz Jr. said. “He was able to track just off the pace and had a perfect trip. He had to come running. This was a really good field today and I’m really proud the way that he finished to hold off some of the best horses in the country right now.”
The win marked Mindframe’s first graded stakes score at 1 1/8 miles, adding to his victories earlier this year in the Gulfstream Park Mile (G2) and Churchill Downs (G1) sprint. His only two career defeats came as a 3-year-old, finishing second to Dornoch in both the Belmont Stakes (G1) and Haskell (G1).
“We kind of thought First Mission might go from the rail and that’s how it ended up playing out,” said Pletcher. “We’re just incredibly proud of him for how he was able to stretch out his natural speed today. Sierra Leone came with a huge run around the turn and he had to hold off some top-class horses and was able to do so.”
The Stephen Foster serves as a “Win and You’re In” race for the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar on Nov. 1, guaranteeing Mindframe a spot in the starting gate, with all entry fees covered and a potential $10,000 travel stipend.
A Maryland-bred son of Constitution, out of Street Sense mare Walk of Stars, Mindframe was bred by R. Larry Johnson.
Saturday’s race also marked a rematch between Sierra Leone and Mystik Dan, who last faced off in the photo-finish thriller of Kentucky Derby 150, where Mystik Dan edged Sierra Leone and Forever Young by a nose. This time, it was Mindframe who stole the show—and may have just taken the lead in the race for champion older male of 2025.
