Splendora moves up in Top Midlantic-bred Poll
The Biz
November 7, 2025
Following voting conducted this week, Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred and The Racing Biz have released the Top Midlantic-bred Poll for November 2025. It is the penultimate rating of the 2025 season.
This poll combines horses of all ages, meaning two-year-olds, three-year-olds, and older horses are all considered as one group.
Three Midlantic-breds competed in the Breeders’ Cup, with one of them, Splendora, winning. She posted a dominant win, by nearly five lengths, in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.
TOP MIDLANTIC-BREDS
Notes: The month’s big mover was Splendora. The Maryland-bred Audible filly jumped from ninth to third (and nearly second) as a result of her smashing win in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint… Mindframe made a middle move before tiring to fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, the first race he’d started and finished since June after losing his rider in his lone interim start… Off as the 6-5 favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, Seismic Beauty bobbled soon after the start, chased and then faltered and was eased… Book’em Danno has not raced since the Aug. 23 Forego after his connections chose not to participate in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, at least in part as a result of the suspension of regular pilot Paco Lopez… Barbadian Runner upset 1-9 Post Time in the Maryland Million Classic for the best win of his career to date… Future Is Now was a vet scratch prior to a planned defense of her Grade 2 Franklin Stakes crown, which her connections said was unnecessary… Newcomer Kappa Kappa, a Pennsylvania-bred, is 3-for-4 in her young career, including a 27-1 upset win in the G2 Raven Run at Keeneland… 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 INFORMATION | MOST RECENT RESULT |
| 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 | 5th G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic |
| 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 | 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 G1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, Tranquility Lake S., 2nd G2 Santa Margarita, G2 Santa Maria | Won G1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf |
| 4 | 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 | 11th G1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff |
| 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 Maryland Million Classic, Robert Hilton Memorial S., Jersey Derby, Spectacular Bid S., Miracle Wood S. | Won Maryland Million Classic |
| 6 | Future Is Now (MD), 5M 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. |
| 7 | Post Time (MD), 5H 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. |
| 8 | Kappa Kappa (PA), 3F by Omaha Beach-Pharoah’s Princess, by Pioneerof the Nile; bred by Stone Jug Ranch LLC and trained by Robert Reid, Jr. for LC Racing LLC, Cash Is King LLC, and Wellesley Stable. 2025 highlights: Won G2 Raven Run S. | Won G2 Raven Run S. |
| 9 | 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. |
| 10 | 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. |
| Others receiving votes | C’Mon Eileen, Celtic Contender, Bosserati, Teachintherelease, Slewperstitus, Slam Notion, Road to Oz, Keys Discount, Jaxon Traveler, Big Cuddle, The Sky Is Falling, Onyx Ten, Maggie’s Girl, Gigante, Winfinity, Time to Rock, Simply Joking |
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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