This column highlights the performances of maidens who have made no more than five starts and who either sold for more than $500,000 at public auction, have siblings that are graded/group winners, or have dams that are graded/group winners. BloodHorse research shows maiden winners, in particular, who meet these criteria are more likely to go on to be graded stakes winners.
Gulfstream Park
Hours before Fierceness unleashed an epic performance to land the Florida Derby (G1), his connections enjoyed a similar eye-catching victory when first-timer Mindframe opened his account by 13 3/4 lengths to take the fifth race on the Gulfstream Park card.
#6 MINDFRAME ($4.20) blows them away in his career debut at Gulfstream Park. The three-year-old son of @WinStarFarm‘s Constitution wins for trainer @PletcherRacing with @iradortiz aboard. pic.twitter.com/vORKXFwDp4
— TVG (@TVG) March 30, 2024
Campaigned by Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables, Mindframe’s debut was so impressive he left the pundits questioning whether the best 3-year-old in the country would be competing on the First Saturday in May. Fierceness’ double-digit romp in the Florida Derby later on the card all but solidified his place atop the 3-year-old division, but there’s no doubt the racing world is clamoring to see what Mindframe will do next.
Mindframe is a fourth-generation colt from a long line of R. Larry Johnson Maryland-breds. Johnson bred and raced Mindframe’s dam, the Street Sense mare Walk of Stars, who captured her top prize at age 4 when going gate to wire in the 2015 Pink Ribbon Stakes at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races. All four of her foals have been winners, with the best being the Maryland-bred, multiple-stakes placed filly Hollywood Walk (Animal Kingdom ).
Instead of racing Mindframe, Johnson sold the sleek dark bay colt as a yearling at the 2022 Keeneland September Sale. Consigned through Betz Thoroughbreds, Mike Repole and Vinnie Viola (of St. Elias Stables) teamed up to acquire Mindframe for $600,000. The duo sent the handsome prospect to Todd Pletcher, trainer of the partnership’s champion 2-year-old male Forte .
Hardly a secret come post time, even-money favorite Mindframe was content to sit back in fourth position early, perching three-wide past a snappy first quarter in :21.97 and a half-mile in :44.44. Irad Ortiz Jr. pulled the trigger on the massive son of Constitution at the top of the turn and he engulfed his rivals with a quarter-mile left to run. Under little urging but a single tap of the righthanded whip to keep him straight, Mindframe poured it on all the way to the wire, finishing the 7 furlongs in a sharp 1:21.72.
The colt netted a 108 Equibase Speed Figure and became a horse to watch on the top of everyone’s list.
BloodHorse Maiden Watch | |||||||
Notable 3YO maiden winners for week of March 25-March 31 | |||||||
Date | Track | Race | Horse | Sire | Dam | Start | Maiden Watch eligibility criteria |
3/29 | SUN | 3 | Free Again | Hard Spun | Striking Scholar | 4 | Half Sibling to G3SW Stryker Phd |
3/29 | TAM | 5 | Qualificata | Malibu Moon | Magic Appeal | 5 | Half Sibling to G1SW Letruska |
3/30 | GP | 5 | Mindframe | Constitution | Walk of Stars | 1 | $600K Yearling |
3/31 | GP | 7 | Invigorated | Street Sense | Cambiocorsa | 1 | Half Sibling to G2SW Moulin de Mougin; Dam is a G3SW |
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