Mindframe Leads Home ‘Rising Star’ Exacta In Cracking Churchill Downs S.

[Wandering Eyes]

On paper, Saturday's $1-million GI Churchill Downs Stakes loomed as one of the races of the afternoon and after seven thrilling furlongs, the race certainly delievered, as 'TDN Rising Star' MINDFRAME (c, 4, Constitution–Walk of Stars, by Street Sense) came storming down the center of the track and managed to just outfinish the dead-heating fellow previously undefeated 'Rising Star' Nysos (Nyquist) and Banishing (Ghostzapper) in a contest that did not deserve a loser. Cutting back a furlong off his comebacking victory in the GII Gulfstream Park Mile Stakes, Mindframe was settled in fifth position through the opening exchanges as a four-way battle for the lead ensued, led by 17-1 Giant Mischief (Into Mischief), who set a sensible pace. Dropping a few spots while under a bit of a ride passing the half-mile pole, Mindframe continued to track from worse than midfield and was in the slipstream of Nysos, making his first start since winning the GII Robert B. Lewis Stakes some 15 months ago, as they rounded the turn and approached the stretch. Mullikin (Violence), three wide and on the pace, was sent into the lead in upper stretch, but he soon had company, as Book'em Danno (Bucchero), ridden ahead of centerfield, was driven along and split rivals to hit the front with less than a furlong to race. Nysos, steered off of the heels of Mullikin, came to deliver his challenge, but Mindframe was doing the best work down the center and raced over the top of his rivals in the final two jumps to take it by a head. Banishing was angled down to the inside in the final 100 yards and finished willingly for a share of second. Book'em Danno was beaten about a half-length in fourth, while Mullikin was close up in fifth.

 

What a finish in the G1 Churchill Downs Stakes presented by Ford

Mindframe comes out on top in a blanket finish. Irad Ortiz, Jr. up for trainer Todd Pletcher and owners Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable. pic.twitter.com/xiTL1axb2T

— Churchill Downs (@ChurchillDowns) May 3, 2025

Saturday, Churchill Downs
CHURCHILL DOWNS S. PRESENTED BY FORD-GI, $935,000, Churchill Downs, 5-3, 4yo/up, 7f, 1:22.64, sy.
1–MINDFRAME, 123, c, 4, by Constitution
                1st Dam: Walk of Stars (SW, $154,944), by Street Sense
                2nd Dam: Star Kell, by Star de Naskra
                3rd Dam: Special Kell, by Parfaitement
1ST GRADE I WIN. ($600,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). 'TDN Rising Star'. O-Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables LLC; B-R. Larry Johnson (MD); T-Todd A. Pletcher; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr.. $524,520. Lifetime Record: 6-4-2-0, $1,292,160. *1/2 to Hollywood Walk (Animal Kingdom), MSP, $368,731. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
(DH) 2–Banishing, 123, g, 5, Ghostzapper–Dowager, by A.P. Indy. 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($80,000 4yo '24 FTKHRA). O-Lawrence P. Roman and David Jacobson; B-Godolphin (KY); T-David Jacobson. $141,900.
(DH) 2–Nysos, 123, c, 4, Nyquist–Zetta Z, by Bernardini.
1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($130,000 Wlg '21 KEENOV; $150,000 Ylg '22 FTKOCT; $550,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR). 'TDN Rising Star'. O-Baoma Corp; B-Atkins Susie (KY); T-Bob Baffert. $141,900.
Margins: NK, HD, HD. Odds: 3.54, 6.54, 1.66.
Also Ran: Book'em Danno, Mullikin, Just Steel, Tejano Twist, Hoist the Gold, Giant Mischief, Extra Anejo, Here Mi Song.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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