Mindframe


Mindframe is a multiple-Grade one winning American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the Churchill Downs Stakes and Stephen Foster Stakes at Churchill Downs in 2025.

Background

Mindframe is a dark bay or brown colt bred in Maryland by R. Larry Johnson. His sire Constitution won the 2014 Florida Derby Constitution, in 2025 stands for $110,000 at WinStar Farm.
His dam, Walk of Stars, won five events including the 2015 Pink Ribbon Stakes at Charles Town race track. R. Larry Johnson also owned the mare as well as the second dam Star Kell and the third dam Special Kell who were both winners in their careers.
Mindframe was sold by his consigner Betz Thoroughbreds at the September yearling Keeneland Sales in 2022 for $600,000 to Repole Stable & St. Elias Stables.

Racing career

Mindframe did not race as a two-year-old and began his three-year-old campaign with a win in a Maiden Special Weight event by lengths, which he followed with a victory in an Allowance Optional Claiming event at Churchill Downs.
Connections then pointed Mindframe to the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes, which in 2024 and 2025 was relocated to Saratoga and run at miles instead of the usual miles because of construction at Belmont Park. Sent off at 5-1 odds, Mindframe stalked the leaders, Preakness Stakes winner Seize the Grey and Dornoch, before being sent to the lead by jockey Irad Ortiz Jr.. Mindframe challenged entering the stretch, briefly passing Dornoch. As Mindframe drifted in the stretch, Dornoch regained the lead and went on to win by a half length.
Mindframe was then shipped to Monmouth Park to contest their signature race, the Haskell Stakes. He was sent off as the 4-5 favorite. Mindframe stumbled at the start, and Dornoch was sent to the lead and contested with second choice Timberlake on the far turn. Dornoch eventually turned back Timberlake and held on to win by lengths with Mindframe in second place.
As a four-year-old, Mindframe was the 1-10 favorite in the Gulfstream Park Mile Stakes, where he stalked leader Encino before sprinting away in the straight and easing down for a lengths victory.
Mindframe then shortened up by winning the Grade I Churchill Downs Stakes over seven furlongs.
On June 28, 2025 Mindframe won the Grade I Stephen Foster Stakes at Churchill Downs, defeating the 2024 Breeders' Cup Classic winner Sierra Leone, and the 2024 Kentucky Derby, winner Mystik Dan.

Statistics

Notes:


An asterisk after the odds means Mindframe was the post-time favourite.