Simply Joking, Quint’s Brew lead Top Midlantic-bred Polls
The Biz- April 17, 2025
Following voting conducted last week, Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred and The Racing Biz have released the first poll of the Top Midlantic-breds of 2025.
Among three-year-olds, the top choice of the panel of voters was Simply Joking, a three-year-old Practical Joke filly who, after starting her career with two straight wins, recently suffered her first defeat when a hard-fought second in the Grade 2 Fantasy at Oaklawn Park.
The top choice among older horses was Quint’s Brew. The four-year-old Maryland-bred Mosler gelding was a near-miss second in the Grade 2 Carter last time out. He started the year with two straight stakes wins, including a sharp score in the General George.
TOP MIDLANTIC-BRED 3-YEAR-OLDS
Notes: Simply Joking could make her next start in the G1 Kentucky Oaks… Passion Rules won’t have enough points to make the Kentucky Derby but could perhaps try his luck in the Preakness… None of the top five is currently in the entries… Among those also receiving votes, Safe Trust is entered in the Weber City Miss at Laurel…
| RANK | HORSE INFO | MOST RECENT START |
| 1 | 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 G2 Fantasy | 2nd G2 Fantasy |
| 2 | Passion Rules (MD), 3C by Friesan Fire-Goodnight Angel, by Touch Gold; bred by Mr. and Mrs. Charles McGinnes and trained by Brad Cox for Calumet Farm. 2025 highlights: 3rd G2 Wood Memorial, 3-for-4 overall | 3rd G2 Wood Memorial |
| 3 | Volleyballprincess (NC), 3F by Mo Town-Prom Dress, by Stephen Got Even; bred by Dr. Frank Batten and trained by Lou Linder for Bran Jam Stable and David Clark. 2025 highlights: Won Ruthless S., 3rd G2 Beaumont | 3rd G2 Beaumont |
| 4 | Onyx Ten (MD), 3F by Street Magician-Chattolanee, by Rock Hard Ten; bred by Frank Sample and trained by Gary Capuano for Frank Sample. 2025 highlights: Won Xtra Heat S., Wide Country S. | 5th Beyond the Wire S. |
| 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 Spectacular Bid S., Miracle Wood S. | 3rd allowance |
| Others receiving votes: Omaha Omaha, Romanesque, Baby Dukes, Safe Trust, Crab Daddy |
TOP MIDLANTIC-BRED OLDER HORSES
Notes: Voting took place before Maryland-bred Future Is Now made her season debut winning the G3 Giant’s Causeway at Keeneland April 13… Last year’s overall Top Midlantic-bred, Post Time, has not yet raced this year but has posted three works… None of the top five is currently in the entries, nor is the lone horse also receiving votes…
| RANK | HORSE INFO | MOST RECENT START |
| 1 | Quint’s Brew (MD), 4G by Mosler-Gansett, by Jump Start; bred by Paul W. Berube, Karen Linnell & Spinnaker Hill Farm and trained by Ned Allard for Paul W. Berube, Karen Linnell & Heather Hunter. 2025 highlights: Won Jennings S., General George S., 2nd G2 Carter | 2nd G2 Carter |
| 2 | 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: 2nd G1 Belmont, G1 Haskell S. | Won G2 Gulfstream Park Mile |
| 3 | Gigante (VA), 5H by Not This Time-Summertime Green, by Empire Maker; bred by Ann Mudge Backer and Smitten Farm and trained by Steve Asmussen for L and N Racing LLC and Clark Brewster. 2025 highlights: Won Colonel ER Bradley S., 2nd G2 Muniz Memorial | 2nd G2 Muniz Memorial |
| 4 | Maximus Meridius (PA), 4G by Maximus Mischief-Quiet Virtue, by Quiet American; bred by Westerly Farm and trained by Butch Reid for LC Racing LLC, Cash is King LLC and Butch Reid. 2025 highlights: Won Toboggan S. | 6th G2 Carter |
| 5 | Speedyness (MD), 4G by Great Notion-Hartigan, by Include; bred by Jagger Inc. and trained by Jamie Ness for Morris Kernan, Jr. and Jagger Inc.. 2025 highlights: Won John B. Campbell S. | 2nd Native Dancer S. |
| Others receiving votes: Call Another Play |
NOTES
The monthly Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred is the only publication devoted to Thoroughbred breeding and racing in the Mid-Atlantic region. The Racing Biz, an online publication, is the independent voice for mid-Atlantic racing and breeding.
The poll is conducted of media members and others involved in the Thoroughbred industry and restricted to horses that have run in 2025 and were bred in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, New Jersey, Delaware, and the Carolinas.
Participating Voters: Ted Black (freelance writer), Michael Campbell (Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association of New Jersey), Joe Clancy (Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred), Cindy Deubler (Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred), Linda Dougherty (freelance), Debbie Easter (Virginia Thoroughbred Association), Paul Espinosa (Charles Town Races), Cricket Goodall (Maryland Horse Breeders Association), Nick Hahn (freelance), Carol Holden (West Virginia Breeders Classics), Tom LaMarra (Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association), Averie Levanti (Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association), Jeff Nations (freelance), Vinnie Perrone (freelance), Frank Petramalo (Virginia Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association), John Piassek (freelance), Gary Quill (The Racing Biz), David Richardson (Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association), Brian Sanfratello (Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association), Chris Sobocinski (Delaware Park), Dan Tordjman (freelance), Frank Vespe (The Racing Biz), Bill Watson (freelance), Bobby Zen (freelance).
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