Splendora leads first Top Midlantic-bred Poll of 2026
The Biz
April 1, 2026
Coming off a season in which she won the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint and concluded the season as the third-ranked Midlantic-bred, Maryland-bred Splendora is back for more. She leads the first edition of the Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred/The Racing Biz Top Midlantic-bred Poll with voting having been conducted last week.
Splendora is 2-for-2 on the young season, with her wins coming in the Grade 1 Beholder Mile and Grade 2 D. Wayne Lukas Stakes. The two wins have pushed her career bankroll to more than $1.1 million.
Among three-year-olds, another Maryland-bred, Dazzling Dame, is tops. The Girvin filly has a win in the Busanda Stakes at Aqueduct and most recently finished second in the Virginia Oaks. The Brittany Russell trainee is 4-for-6 in her career.
Of the older horses, Takethemoneyhoney, Quint’s Brew, and Blue Kingdom are all entered to run this weekend in stakes company. In fact, both Takethemoneyhoney and Quint’s Brew are entered both at Laurel in stakes action and cross-entered in graded stakes at Aqueduct.
One of the top three-year-olds is expected in action this week. Pennsylvania-bred Red Zone Runner, tied for fifth, is entered in Saturday’s Wood Memorial at the Big A. Three others, Let’s Go Lando, Code of Silence, and Close the Gate, are expected to renew acquaintances in the April 18 Federico Tesio Stakes at Laurel Park.
Last year’s overall Top Midlantic-bred, Mindframe, was retired to stud after finishing fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. The second-ranked Midlantic-bred, the New Jersey-bred Book’em Danno, has not yet raced this year but is entered in Saturday’s Grade 2 Carter at Aqueduct.
Last year’s fourth and fifth overall finishers, Seismic Beauty and Barbadian Runner, have not raced thus far in 2026. But both have posted one recorded work.
Seven of the top 11, including ties, were bred in Maryland, while three were bred in Pennsylvania and one in Virginia. Eight were males and three were females.
TOP OLDER HORSES
| RANK | HORSE INFO | MOST RECENT START |
| 1 | Splendora (MD), 5M by Audible-Miss Freeze, by Frost Giant; bred by The Elkstone Group LLC and trained by Bob Baffert for Boyd Racing and By Talla Racing LLC. 2025 highlights: Won G1 Beholder Mile, G2 D. Wayne Lukas S. | Won G1 Beholder Mile |
| 2 | Takethemoneyhoney (MD), 5M by Golden Lad-Goodonehoney, by Great Notion; bred by Kasey K Racing Stable, Michael Day and Final Turn Racing Stable and trained by Michael Moore for Kasey K Racing Stable, Michael Day and Final Turn Racing Stable. 2025 highlights: Won Geisha S., Conniver S. | Won Conniver S. |
| 3 | Quint’s Brew (MD), 5G 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., Not for Love S. | Won Not for Love S. |
| 4 | Blue Kingdom (MD), 5G by First Mondays-Graceful Ginger, by Two Punch; bred by Dr. & Mrs. Thomas Bowman and trained by Jamie Ness for DEA Thoroughbred Racing LLC. 2025 highlights: 2nd General George S., Not for Love S., Jennings S. | 2nd Not for Love S. |
| 5 | Concrete Glory (PA), 7G by Bodemeister-Take It Inside, by Disco Rico; bred by Bodemeister Syndicate & Kyle M. Horlacher and trained by Saffie Joseph, Jr. for Big Frank Stable. 2024 highlights: Won Pelican S. | 4th Army Mule S. |
| Also receiving votes | Dwelling Legacy, You’re the One, Maclean’s Rook, Late Nite Call |
TOP 3-YEAR-OLDS
| RANK | HORSE INFO | MOST RECENT START |
| 1 | Dazzling Dame (MD), 3F by Girvin-Awesome Dama, by Corinthian; bred by Maria M. Haire and trained by Brittany Russell for Respect the Valleys, LLC, Medallion Racing and Madaket Stables, LLC . 2024 highlights: Won Busanda S., 2nd Virginia Oaks | 2nd Virginia Derby |
| 2 | Let’s Go Lando (MD), 3G by Game Winner-Steady N Love, by Not for Love; bred by ZWP Stable & Non Stop Stable and trained by Gary Capuano for Eagle Up Stables, London Reid Thoroughbreds and Non Stop Stable. 2024 highlights: 2nd Miracle Wood S., 3rd Private Terms S. | 3rd Private Terms S. |
| 3 | Code of Silence (MD), 3G by Blofeld-Tough Talkin Lady, by Oratory; bred by Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Holt & Mr. & Mrs. Richard Palumbo and trained by Tim Keefe for Mount Peru Farm. 2024 highlights: 2nd Private Terms S., 3rd Miracle Wood S. | 2nd Private Terms S. |
| 4 | Close the Gate (PA), 3G by Engage-Bethaven, by Victory Gallop; bred by Dr. & Mrs. William E. Riddle Jr. and trained by John Salzman, Jr. for Bird and Grady LLC. 2024 highlights: 2nd Spectacular Bid S., 3rd Miracle Wood S. | 3rd allowance/optional claiming |
| 5 (tie) | Secured Freedom (VA), 3C by Practical Joke-Securely, by Uncle Mo; bred by Audley Farm Equine, LLC and trained by Tim Yakteen for Leslie Amestoy, Pierre Jean Amestoy, Jr., and Roger Beasley. 2024 highlights: 3rd G3 Robert B. Lewis S. | 4th G2 San Felipe S. |
| 5 (tie) | Red Zone Runner (PA), 3C by Practical Joke-Look Deep, by Petionville; bred by Arrowwood Farm, Inc. and trained by Hugo Padilla for Tom Coulter. 2024 highlights: Won City of Brotherly Love S. | Won City of Brotherly Love S. |
| Also receiving votes | Lino Padrino, Our Golden Gator, Secane |
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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