Big Cuddle new leader in Top Midlantic-bred Polls
Splendora retains top spot among older horses
Press Release
August 3, 2026
Two-time stakes winner Big Cuddle has moved to the top of the three-year-old division in the newest Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred/The Racing Biz Top Midlantic-bred Poll, voting for which was completed August 1.
Big Cuddle was third in the prior Top Midlantic-bred Poll, released June 5, but he moved to the head of the class with an impressive score in the Delaware Derby June 13. Previously a winner in the Sir Barton Stakes, Big Cuddle has two wins in three starts this year and four of five in his career.
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Big Cuddle is a Maryland-bred Great Notion colt. Bred by Two Legends Farm, he is trained by Gary Capuano for Pocket 3’s Racing LLC.
Among older horses, last year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint champion, the Maryland-bred Splendora remains in the top spot. A five-year-old Audible mare, she most recently won the Grade 2 Molly Pitcher at Monmouth Park July 18.
Bred by The Elkstone Group LLC, Splendora is trained by Bob Baffert for Boyd Racing LLC and Talla Racing LLC. She’s 4-for-5 this year and has nine wins in 15 career starts with over $1.6 million banked.
New to the list of 3-year-olds is the Virginia-bred Practical Joke colt Secured Freedom. Trained by Tim Yakteen, the Audley Farm-bred won the Affirmed Stakes at Santa Anita June 15, to go along with his earlier third-place finish in the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes Feb. 7.
New to the top five older horses are Book’em Danno, who is second, and Barbadian Runner, who’s fourth.
The New Jersey-bred Book’em Danno, last year’s Eclipse Award winner as champion male sprinter, has won two races since the most recent poll, scoring in the Grade 3 True North at Saratoga and then winning the Mr. Prospector at Monmouth Park. He’s trained by Derek Ryan for Atlantic Six Racing LLC.
Barbadian Runner, a four-year-old Maryland-bred, won the Deputed Testamony at Laurel June 27 for his top win of the season and is one decent payday from $1 million in career earnings. He is trained by Henry Walters for AJ Will Win Stables LLC.
Five of the 10 horses in the top lists were bred in Maryland. Two were bred in Pennsylvania, while one was bred in each of New Jersey, Virginia, and West Virginia. Seven are males, and three are 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. 2026 highlights: Won G1 Beholder Mile, G2 Molly Pitcher S., G2 Shawnee S., G2 D. Wayne Lukas S. | Won G2 Molly Pitcher S. |
| 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. 2026 highlights: Won G3 True North, Mr. Prospector S. | Won Mr. Prospector 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. 2026 highlights: Won Alapocas Run S., Frank Whiteley S., Jennings S., Not for Love S. | 2nd Mr. Prospector S. |
| 4 | Barbadian Runner (MD), 4G by Barbados-Quiet Run, by Northern Afleet; bred by Shamrock Farm and trained by Henry Walters for AJ Will Win Stables LLC. 2026 highlights: Won Deputed Testamony S. | 2nd Yorktown S. |
| 5 | Simply Joking (PA), 4F by Practical Joke-Imply, by E Dubai; bred by Barlar, LLC and trained by Michael McCarthy for Berkels0813 LLC, CMNWLTH, LLC, Grantley Acres and Ryan Conner. 2026 highlights: Won G3 Santa Maria, 2nd G2 Santa Margarita S., 3rd G1 Clement Hirsch | 3rd G1 Clement Hirsch S. |
| Also receiving votes | Thundering, Cruise the Nile, Takethemoneyhoney, Gigante, Duncan Idaho |
TOP 3-YEAR-OLDS
| Rank | Horse Info | Most recent start |
| 1 | Big Cuddle (MD), 3C by Great Notion-Frechette, by El Padrino; bred by Two Legends Farm and trained by Gary Capuano for Pocket 3’s Racing LLC. 2026 highlights: Won Delaware Derby, Sir Barton S. | Won Sir Barton S. |
| 2 | 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 . 2026 highlights: Won Busanda S., 3rd G3 Delaware Oaks | 3rd G3 Delaware Oaks |
| 3 | 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. 2026 highlights: Won Affirmed S., 3rd G3 Robert B. Lewis S. | 2nd Oceanside H. |
| 4 | Shane’s Wonder (PA), 3G by Eastwood-One Fast Chick, by First Defence; bred by Uptowncharlybrown Stud LLC and trained by Alfredo Velazquez for Uptowncharlybrown Stud LLC. 2026 highlights: Won Wait For It S., 2nd Chick Lang S. | Won allowance |
| 5 | Ryan’s Run (WV), 3G by Runhappy-Saturday Nthe Park, by Any Given Saturday; bred by Coleswood Farm, Inc. and trained by Jeff Runco for Coleswood Farm, Inc.. 2026 highlights: Won Robert G. Leavitt S., Coin Collector S. | Won Robert G. Leavitt S. |
| Also receiving votes | Cairo Surprise, At a Premium, Hark Theangelssing, Let’s Go Lando, Code of Silence, Pont Aven, Ponder and Dream, Divine Intentions |
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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 2026 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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