Mindframe maintains Top Midlantic-bred Poll edge
The Biz
August 8, 2025
Following voting conducted this week, Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred and The Racing Biz have released the latest Top Midlantic-bred Poll of 2025.
Among three-year-olds, Maryland-bred Barbadian Runner, a busy gelding with seven starts this year, moved to the top, narrowly besting last poll’s leader, the Pennsylvania-bred filly Simply Joking, who has been idle since May.
In the older horse poll, Mindframe, the Maryland-bred, is the clear choice of voters with the New Jersey-bred sprinter Book’em Danno in second.
TOP MIDLANTIC-BRED 3-YEAR-OLDS
Notes: Barbadian Runner is 9-2 on the morning line for Saturday’s Petramalo Mile at Colonial Downs as he seeks his fourth stakes win of the year… Volleyballprincess is 20-1 on the morning line for Saturday’s Audubon Oaks at Ellis Park and has one win this season… Safe Trust has one stakes win this year and most recently ran third in the Dashing Beauty at Delaware Park… Omaha Omaha has not worked or raced since a 7th-place finish in the Delaware Derby… Simply Joking and Passion Rules have not raced or worked since May and April, respectively… Safe Trust, in a tie with Omaha Omaha for the fifth spot, is new to the poll…
| RANK | HORSE INFO | MOST RECENT START |
| 1 | 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 Jersey Derby, Spectacular Bid S., Miracle Wood S. | 2nd Star de Naskra S. |
| 2 | 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 | 13th Kentucky Oaks |
| 3 | 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 |
| 4 | 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 | 2nd Maryfield S. |
| 5 (tie) | Safe Trust (MD), 3F by Mosler-Annie Trust, by Super Ninety Nine; bred by Barak Farm and trained by Jose Corrales for Barak Farm. 2025 highlights: Won Beyond the Wire S., 2nd Wide Country S. | 3rd Dashing Beauty S. |
| 5 (tie) | Omaha Omaha (VA), 3C by Audible-England Swings, by Kitten’s Joy; bred by On Your Left Racing LLC and trained by Michael Gorham for On Your Left Racing LLC. 2025 highlights: 2nd Jerome S., 3rd Withers S., Virginia Derby | 7th Delaware Derby |
| Also receiving votes: Onyx Ten, Spotafreeone, Zip Start, Surfside Moon, Sacred Thunder, Romanesque, Moonlit Notion, Crab Daddy |
TOP MIDLANTIC-BRED OLDER HORSES
Notes: Mindframe has never been worse than second in seven career starts (five wins) and has earned nearly $1.2 million this year. He’s expected to go in the Jockey Club Gold Cup next… Book’em Danno’s only defeat in four start this year came when a close-up fourth, behind Mindframe, in the G1 Churchill Downs… Never worse than third in seven career outings, Seismic Beauty has added consecutive graded stakes wins in Southern California, most recently in the Clement L. Hirsch Aug. 2… Future Is Now won two Saratoga stakes last year and could try to replicate that a bit later in the meet after having won the Caress there… Quint’s Brew hasn’t raced since May and has been off the work tab, too… Book’em Danno is new to the top five this poll…
| RANK | HORSE INFO | MOST RECENT START |
| 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 G1 Churchill Downs, G1 Stephen Foster S., G2 Gulfstream Park Mile | Won G1 Stephen Foster |
| 2 | Book’em Danno (NJ), 4G by Bucchero-Adorabella, by Ghostzapper; bred by Gregory J. Kilka & Bright View Farm and trained by Derek Ryan for Atlantic Six Racing, LLC. 2025 highlights: Won G3 True North, G2 Alfred G. Vanderbilt | Won G2 Alfred G. Vanderbilt |
| 3 | 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 G1 Clement L. Hirsch, G2 Santa Margarita | Won G1 Clement L. Hirsch |
| 4 | Future Is Now (MD), 4F by Great Notion-Past as Prelude, by Bernardini; bred by R. Larry Johnson and trained by Michael Trombetta for R. Larry Johnson. 2025 highlights: Won G3 Caress, G3 Giant’s Causeway | Won G3 Caress |
| 5 | 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, G3 Westchester | 2nd G2 Carter |
| Also receiving votes: Splendora, Speedyness, Post Time |
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), Dan Illman (Maryland Jockey Club), 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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