Stephen Foster Stakes (Grade 1)

HE arrived late and departed early in his three-year-old career, but there was no doubt Mindframe was the horse of the moment at Churchill Downs last weekend.

The $940,000 Grade 1 Stephen Foster Stakes featured a stellar cast, and the race lived up to the billing as Repole Stable and St Elias Stable’s colt raced to a length win over the 2024 champion three-year-old male Sierra Leone.

It was a second consecutive victory in Grade 1 company for the four-year-old son of Constitution, and he is unbeaten in three outings this season. He had come late to grab his first Grade 1 here on the Kentucky Derby day card over seven furlongs on a sloppy track, but this nine-furlong contest was more to his liking.

Last season, he had progressed quickly from a maiden win at Gulfstream at the end of March to take two Grade 1 second places to the now-retired Dornoch in the Belmont and Haskell Stakes before injury sidelined him for the rest of the autumn.

After his win around the seven-furlong one turn on his last start, jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. felt that win over shorter helped the Todd Pletcher-trained colt stay in contention earlier and they raced behind the early leader First Mission.

Racing decent fractions to 1m11.46secs for six furlongs, Ortiz gave Mindframe a breather down the backstretch. Sierra Leone, last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic winner, was much closer to the pace this time and moved on his outside with three furlongs to go.

“I said, ‘Alright, let’s start the race right here. He was there for me. He put his head right beside (First Mission) and after that I said, ‘Alright let’s go,’ and he go on,” Ortiz said afterwards.

Mindframe took command with a furlong and a half left and fended off the challenges of First Mission and 2024 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan, through on the rail again.

Sierra Leone kept on but settled for second and First Mission edged Mystik Dan by a neck for third.

Mindframe is now a perfect 3-for-3 this season and a 3-for-3 at Churchill Downs.

“Last year, he started a bit later than some of the others and we didn’t get him going until later in the year, so to come up against these (competitors) is pretty good and to win against them is even better,” Pletcher’s assistant Sophie Green was quoted on Blood-Horse.

The Breeders’ Cup Sprint, Mile, the Sprint, the Classic are all possible end of year targets for the colt, who cost Repole Stables $600,000 at Keeneland September in 2023. “You don’t have to pigeonhole him into one spot; he’ll tell us where he wants to go,” Claiborne Stallion Seasons and Bloodstock Manager Jacob West, agent for owner Mike Repole, added of the colt, who will retire there.

Repole Stables also have Fierceness for the summer Grade 1s.

Thorpedo back

Also on the supporting card, the 2024 Horse of the Year, Thorpedo Anna rebounded from a very disappointing run in the La Troienne Stakes at this track in June.

She finished three lengths in front in the nine-furlong $498,500 Grade 2 Fleur de Lis Stakes. without ever needing to be encouraged with the whip, racing to her seventh stakes race win. Whether this was close to her three-year-old form is up for discussion though.

Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. could feel things would be different as soon as the gates opened.

“That first jump when she left cleanly and was there, I was like, ‘Alright, we’re fine from this point,’” Hernandez said.

The pair raced behind the pacesetting Royal Spa, through early fractions. “We turned for home, just let her out a notch, and off she went,” Hernandez said.

Thorpedo Anna struck the front at the top of the stretch. Royal Spa dug in but couldn’t stay with the champion, who went clear. Taxed, second in the La Troienne last time out, took third.

Trainer Kenny McPeek was reported saying: “I’m 90% sure that the mugging she got into the first turn [last time] was all the reason why she didn’t perform. It’s a toss,” he said. “We’ve got three races before the year’s out. Right now the Personal Ensign might be it, there’s a good chance she’ll be up at Saratoga.”

The goal, however, is a return trip to defend her title in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff.