Mindframe, who had been away from the races since finishing second in last year’s Haskell S. (G1), made a triumphant return on Saturday with a popular win in the $215,000 Gulfstream Park Mile S. (G2).
Steal Sunshine, another son of Constitution, rallied from last in the field of eight to finish second, 1 ¼-lengths from the winner.
Saturday marked the first stakes win for the 4-year-old Constitution colt, who was also second in last year’s Belmont S. (G1).
Getting a confident ride from Irad Ortiz, Jr., Mindframe broke from the inside post, then shifted away from the fence after the first furlong. Encino set early fractions of :24.14 and :46.61, with Mindframe no more than two lengths behind. Going three-wide on the turn, Ortiz nudged Mindframe on with three furlongs, to run, and the dark bay colt responded immediately to take the lead before entering the stretch. He opened up three lengths before settling late to win in 1:36.25 on a fast track.
“He’s been training really well,” said winning trainer Todd Pletcher. “He’s a horse that breezes very impressively. You’re always concerned when you’re coming off a layoff and drawing the one hole at a one-turn mile. It’s demanding, but Irad was able to maneuver himself into a good spot. He kind of opened up the race at the top of the stretch. He kind of got a little tired the last sixteenth but he got the job done.”
Mindframe, who was named a TDN Rising Star following his 13 ¾-length debut win at Gulfstream last March 30, is now 3-2-0 in five starts and has earned $767,640 for Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables LLC.
The winner was bred by Larry Johnson and is out of the stakes winner Walk of Stars.
Pedigree Notes from the TDN
WinStar’s Constitution, sire of the Gulfstream Park Mile exacta and himself a two-time Grade I winner at Gulfstream Park, is responsible for Mindframe and 36 other graded winners. The Gulfstream Park Mile winner is one of three U.S. stakes winners to date in 2025 for the son of Tapit, including the highly regarded and undefeated Sam F. Davis S. winner John Hancock. Constitution’s 73 black-type winners worldwide also include Classic winner and hot young sire Tiz the Law.
