The Mindframe Leads NTRA Top Thoroughbred Voting
Mindframe, representing Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable LLC, continues to top the NTRA Top Thoroughbred voting for the second week running following a victory in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Stakes at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, on June 28. The four-year-old Constitutional colt, trained by Todd Pletcher and owned by Repole Stable, secured 11 votes and 264 points in the latest tally.
Undefeated this year, Mindframe began his season with a win in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Mile by 1¼ lengths. He claimed his first Grade 1 triumph in the 7-furlong Churchill Downs Stakes, holding off rivals in a tight finish. Posting a Beyer Speed Figure of 103 in the Foster, matching his career-best from his debut, Mindframe stands out as the only four-year-old to win multiple Grade 1 dirt races this season. He is set to compete against strong contenders at the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes on August 2.
Sovereignty, a dual classic winner who was third last week, has bounced back to claim second place in the voting with 12 first-place votes and 233 points. This son of Godolphin’s Mischief’s Home Bred has highlighted his campaign with wins in both the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, plus a spring victory at the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth. Trained by Bill Mott, Sovereignty remains a formidable force.
Taking third in the vote is Raging Torrent, undefeated this year and successful at home and abroad with wins in the Met Mile and the Grade 2 Godolphin Mile. Trained by Doug O’Neill and co-owned by Hueshang Zhang and Craig Dado, Raging Torrent has edged out other contenders this week.
In the rankings, G1 New York winner Felt Nice and California’s speedster NYSOS have cracked the top ten at ninth and tenth place, respectively, following a competitive weekend for Copion.
Other horses receiving votes include Copion, Methods and Means, Magnitude, Sweet Aztec, First Mission, Nitrogen, Rock, Spirit of St. Louis, Hit Show, Eternal Youth, Mystic Dan, Bookmanno, Fionn, Fionn Determinism, Erase, Cheers, Kingdom of Zulu, Bishop Bay, Phyllis Fogg, AG Bullet, and Test Score.
The weekly Top Thoroughbred Voting reflects the leading Horse of the Year candidates, with points awarded on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 scale based on first-place votes.
Fan Take: This update highlights the thrilling competition among elite racehorses and sets the stage for an exciting second half of the season. For horse racing enthusiasts, tracking these top contenders not only fuels anticipation but also shapes the narrative for Horse of the Year honors, reinforcing the sport’s enduring appeal and excitement.
(Note: This article was originally published by the Paulick Report on July 8, 2025.)
