Mindframe clear leader in Top Midlantic-bred Poll
The Biz
September 27, 2025
Following voting conducted this week, Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred and The Racing Biz have released the Top Midlantic-bred Poll for September 2025.
This poll combines horses of all ages for the first time this year, meaning two-year-olds, three-year-olds, and older horses are all considered as one group.
Older horses have the edge, as eight of the top 10, including leaders Mindframe, Book’em Danno, Seismic Beauty, and Future Is Now, are older than three.
TOP MIDLANTIC-BREDS
Notes: Mindframe, a DNF last out in the Jockey Club Gold Cup when he lost his rider soon after the start, is being pointed to the Breeders’ Cup Classic but may get a start in the interim… Book’em Danno may try the Breeders’ Cup Sprint… Seismic Beauty has had three works since winning the Hirsch… Future Is Now has been on the worktab twice since the end of the Saratoga meet and likely is bound for Keeneland for her next start… Barbadian Runner, who may head to the Maryland Million for his next tilt, had his first work since the Hilton Memorial Sept. 20… Post Time is entered in the Grade 2 Woodward Sept. 27… Quint’s Brew hasn’t started or worked since May… Witty seems likely to try the Maryland Million Turf Sprint next out… Splendora has a pair of works since winning the Tranquility Lake Sept. 1… Simply Joking, unraced since the May 2 Kentucky Oaks, recently reappeared on the work tab and has recorded four moves, including a bullet half-mile Sept. 21 at Santa Anita… Mindframe and Book’em Danno are the clear leaders at this point: Mindframe received every first-place vote but one, and Book’em Danno took all but two of the second-place votes… Six of the top 10 are males, and four are females… Seven of the top 10 were bred in Maryland, while two were bred in Pennsylvania and one in New Jersey…
| 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 | DNF G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup |
| 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 G1 Forego, G2 Alfred G. Vanderbilt, G3 True North | Won G1 Forego S. |
| 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 Smart and Fancy 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 Robert Hilton Memorial S., Jersey Derby, Spectacular Bid S., Miracle Wood S. | Won Robert Hilton Memorial S. |
| 6 | Post Time (MD), 4C by Frosted-Vielsalm, by Fairbanks; bred by Dr. & Mrs. Thomas Bowman, Dr. Brooke Bowman & Milton P. Higgins III and trained by Brittany Russell for Hillwood Stable LLC. 2024 highlights: Won Polynesian S., Deputed Testamony S. | Won Polynesian S. |
| 7 | 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 G3 Westchester S. |
| 8 | Witty (PA), 6G by Great Notion-Zeezee Zoomzoom, by Congrats; bred by Elizabeth Merryman and trained by Elizabeth Merryman for Elizabeth Merryman and Marc Detampel. 2025 highlights: Won Van Clief S., Jim McKay Turf Sprint | 3rd Da Hoss S. |
| 9 | Splendora (MD), 4F by Audible-Miss Freeze, by Frost Giant; bred by The Elkstone Group LLC and trained by Bob Baffert for By Talla Racing LLC. 2025 highlights: Won Tranquility Lake S., 2nd G2 Santa Margarita, G2 Santa Maria | Won Transquility Lake S. |
| 10 | 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 |
| Others | Gigante, Doubting Thomas, The Sky Is Falling, Slam Notion, Jaxon Traveler, Candy Reward, Volleyballprincess, Road to Oz, Malibu Beauty, Celtic Contender, Corinna, Hollywood Walk, Had to Have Him, Duncan Idaho, C’Mon Eileen |
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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