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Mindframe asserts his authority in the Stephen Foster (Jenny Doyle/Past The Wire)
Churchill Downs Press Release
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – In what was billed as one of the best races of the year and a showdown of North America’s top older horses, Mindframe, winner of the $1 million Churchill Downs (GI) on the Kentucky Derby undercard, cemented his status as a major player in 2025 with a one-length triumph over Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) winner Sierra Leone in Saturday’s 44th running of the $1 million Stephen Foster (Grade I) at Churchill Downs.
Mindframe clocked 1 1/8 miles in 1:47.48, which is the fourth fastest renewal only behind Victory Gallop’s 1:47.28 in 1999, Tom’s d’Etat’s 1:47.30 in 2020 and Fort Larned’s 1:47.45 in 2013.
Irad Ortiz Jr. rode the winner for trainer Todd Pletcher and owners Repole Stable (Mike Repole) and St. Elias Stable (NHL’s Florida Panthers owner Vinny Viola).
The lofty $552,420 first prize lifted the dark bay or brown Maryland-bred colt’s earnings to $1844,580 from a record of 5-2-0 in seven starts.
Mindframe, bet down to 9-5 favoritism, rewarded his backers with mutuels of $5.76, $3.34 and $2.56. Sierra Leone, last year’s Champion 3-Year-Old Male with Flavien Prat aboard, was second and returned $3.06 and $2.34 at odds of 2-1. First Mission, the Oaklawn Handicap (GII) winner and pacesetter at 5-2, was another 1 ¼ lengths back in third under Luis Saez and paid $2.70 to show.
Kentucky Derby 150 winner Mystik Dan was another neck back in fourth and was followed by Dubai World Cup (GI) winner Hit Show and 64-1 outsider Ashcroft for ailing Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. Skippylongstocking was scratched.
Breaking from the rail in the compact field of five, First Mission went to the front and sat early fractions of :23.94, :47.95 and 1:11.46 as Mindframe tracked in second off his right hip with Mystik Dan getting his familiar pocket trip on the rail in fourth. First Mission picked up the pace with five furlongs to run but Ortiz aboard Mindframe didn’t bite. Sierra Leone, who was away from the gate slowly, made a strong move entering the final turn to move into third.
At the end of the last bend, Mindframe drew even with First Mission as Mystik Dan cut the corner to challenge the lead. Mindframe emerged in front with a furlong to run and had plenty left to turn back the sustained late run by Sierra Leone.
Mindframe takes the G1 Stephen Foster at @churchilldowns under @iradortiz for trainer Todd Pletcher! @RepoleStable
— TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) June 28, 2025
TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/8XAz8KEsYd
“He broke really sharp last time sprinting but we figured today might be a different scenario,” Ortiz Jr. said. “He was able to track just off the pace and had a perfect trip. He had to come running. This was a really good field today and I’m really proud the way that he finished to hold off some of the best horses in the country right now.”
The victory was Mindframe’s first graded stakes achievement at nine furlongs. In March, he won the $215,000 Gulfstream Park Mile (GI) before his thrilling neck victory over Banishing and Nysos in the Churchill Downs presented by Ford (GI) over seven furlongs on May 3.
“We kind of thought First Mission might go from the rail and that’s how it ended up playing out,” said Pletcher, who also won last year’s Stephen Foster with Kingsbarns. “We’re just incredibly proud of him for how he was able to stretch out his natural speed today. Sierra Leone came with a huge run around the turn and he had to hold off some top-class horses and was able to do so.”
At 3, Mindframe finished a half-length back of Dornoch in the $2 million Belmont (GI) and a 1 ¼-length back of that rival in the $1 million Haskell (GI).
The victory in the Stephen Foster, a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In Classic Division” race, earned Mindframe a guaranteed spot in the starting gate for the $7 million Longines Classic (GI), which is scheduled for Nov. 1 at Del Mar. Also, his connections will have all Breeders’ Cup pre-entry and entry fees covered and could receive a travel award up to $10,000.
Mindframe is a 4-year-old son of Constitution out of the Street Sense mare Walk of Stars and was bred by R. Larry Johnson.
The Stephen Foster marked the first meeting between Sierra Leone and Mystik Dan at Churchill Downs since their dramatic three-horse photo finish in Kentucky Derby 150 where Mystik Dan edged Sierra Leone and Forever Young by a nose.
