Mindframe Named Maryland-Bred Horse of the Year

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Mindframe, a 4-year-old son of Constitution, was named the 2025 Maryland-bred Horse of the Year, as well as champion older male, at the ninth annual Renaissance Champion Awards held at Laurel Park. The richest state-bred runner of 2025 with $1,407,220 earned in five starts, Mindframe ranked as one of the best of his generation, with two seconds in his only two stakes starts, both Grade 1s, including the Belmont Stakes, before winning the Gulfstream Park Mile-G2, the Churchill Downs Stakes-G1, and the Stephen Foster-G1 at Churchill Downs.

Why it matters

Maryland has a rich history of Thoroughbred racing and breeding, and the annual Renaissance Champion Awards recognize the top performers in the state. Mindframe's accomplishments, including a Breeders' Cup appearance, highlight the quality of Maryland-bred racehorses and the state's importance in the industry.

The details

Mindframe, trained by Todd Pletcher, won three graded stakes races in 2025, including the Grade 1 Churchill Downs Stakes and the Grade 1 Stephen Foster. He was the second-choice in the Jockey Club Gold Cup-G1 at Saratoga but was eliminated at the start. Mindframe then finished fifth in the Breeders' Cup Classic-G1 at Del Mar in November before retiring to stud at Claiborne Farm in Kentucky.

• Mindframe won the Gulfstream Park Mile-G2 in March 2025.
• Mindframe won the Churchill Downs Stakes-G1 on Kentucky Derby day in May 2025.
• Mindframe won the Stephen Foster-G1 at Churchill Downs in late June 2025.
• Mindframe finished fifth in the Breeders' Cup Classic-G1 at Del Mar in November 2025.
• Mindframe was named the 2025 Maryland-bred Horse of the Year at the Renaissance Champion Awards on March 22, 2026.

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