By Bill Finley
Owner Mike Repole believes he might have the best 4-year-old in the country in his barn at the start of the new year, and that horse isn't necessarily Fierceness (City of Light).
Mindframe (Constitution) has been out of sight, out of mind since finishing second in the July 20 GI Haskell S. at Monmouth. In his prior start, he was second in the GI Belmont S. While he didn't win either race, he overcame the fact that he had only two lifetime starts before the Belmont and was an inexperienced, lightly raced horse with a lot to learn. He could only get better.
But trainer Todd Pletcher and Repole had to take a step back after Mindframe developed some minor problems after the Haskell.
“He didn't have anything done surgically,” Pletcher said. “There was some minor bone bruising. We felt that we were running out of time to make the [Breeders' Cup] Classic and so we felt the right thing to do was to stop on him.”
On Tuesday, Mindframe had his first work of the year, breezing at Stonestreet Ocala. Repole was so impressed by the colt's work that he played it on X, while adding this comment: “Look who's back!!!!! Maybe the best 4 year old colt in the country next year. Guess??? Hint…It's not Fierceness.”
👀 👀
Look who's back!!!!!Maybe the best 4 year old colt in the country next year.
Guess???
Hint……..it's not Fierceness. pic.twitter.com/ka8cshTMWz
— Repole Stable (@RepoleStable) December 16, 2024
Pletcher said he would not compare the two horses.
“I have a lot of confidence in both horses and I will not compare them,” he said. “They are both big-time talents and I am fortunate to train both of them.”
He knows, however, that Mindframe has the potential to have a huge 4-year-old campaign.
“He accomplished a lot in a short period of time,” said Pletcher, who has still another quality soon-to-be 4-year-old in Locked (Gun Runner) in his barn. “Mindframe went from a maiden to an 'a other than' to runner-up in the Belmont and the Haskell. He showed tremendous talent for a May foal. I think he proved he was one of the best 3-year-olds last year. He's a big, strong colt that you would think would improve with some more experience and maturity.”
Mindframe left Ocala Tuesday and arrived later in the day at Pletcher's winter headquarters at Palm Beach Downs. He was getting nothing but positive reports from the people looking after him in Ocala.
“He's responded really well.” Pletcher said. “Ian Brennan has been very high on how the horse has been training coming back. His first breeze was quite good. We anticipate he will come to hand pretty quickly like he did once he got into serious training earlier this year.”
For both Fierceness and Mindframe, Pletcher has yet to map out a 2025 schedule. Repole has mentioned that he'd like to see Fierceness run in the GI Metropolitan Handicap. Fierceness is owned solely by Repole, while Mindframe is owned by the Repole-St. Elias Stables partnership. It may not be easy to keep them apart.
“It's a little early to project what race they will run in first next year,” he said. “As Mike has stated, the Met Mile is an early goal for Fierceness. That might put Mindframe into a longer race around the same time. When it will be a challenge is when the Whitney comes around and obviously the Breeders' Cup Classic, too. We'll hope we'll be in a poistion to run them both in a race like that.”
This is somewhat new territory for Pletcher, whose top 3-year-olds are usually so good that they are sent off to stud and don't run at four.
“We're in a fortunate situation,” he said. “It was Mike's decision to bring Fierceness back as a 4-year-old. As we know from an economic standpoint, even though he'll be running in races with lucrative purses, he would be more valuable as a stallion, but Mike wants to race him again. That's fantastic for us. To have three really good horse in Fierceness, Mindframe and Locked is really something special.”
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
