Mindframe begins comeback bid in Gulfstream Park Mile

Mindframe, runner-up in last summer’s Belmont Stakes and Grade 1 Haskell before going to the sidelines, is set to launch his comeback against eight rivals, including defending champion Steal Sunshine, in Saturday’s $215,000 Gulfstream Park Mile (G2) for 4-year-olds and up.

Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, who won the Gulfstream Park Mile six times, most recently with Fearless in 2021, Mindframe will make his first start since running second as the favorite to Dornoch in the 1 1/8-mile Haskell on July 20.

It was the second straight loss to Dornoch after coming up short in the Belmont at Saratoga, contested at 1 1/4 miles. In only his third start and first in a stakes, Mindframe led into mid-stretch but drifted out late and allowed the winner room to come up the inside and prevail by half a length.

“Those were big efforts (and) frustrating losses, but he comes back with more experience now. One of the things with him is he’s a May 13 foal, so we always felt like he would continue to improve as he matured,” Pletcher said. “We have high hopes for him, for sure.”

Bone bruising forced Mindframe to the sidelines after the Haskell, and he didn't return to the work tab until Dec. 27 at Palm Beach Downs. Working with fellow comebacking 4-year-old Speak Easy, he has breezed eight times for the Gulfstream Park Mile, most recently going five furlongs in a bullet 59.74 seconds Feb. 22.

The bone bruising “set us back for a little bit, but he’s done really well since then,” Pletcher said. “He’s a very talented horse and does things very easily. He’s had a pretty steady series of breezes. He’s just kind of built up from week to week and is coming off a pretty strong couple of five-eighths (works). Hopefully we have him ready enough to run well here and then keep him moving forward for the rest of the year.”

A 13 3/4-length debut winner last March at the course and distance, Mindframe, a son of Constitution, will break from post 1 and have regular rider Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard. They are favored at even money on the morning line.

“It’s kind of a difficult assignment drawing the 1 hole going a mile first time off a long layoff, but he ran well in his debut at Gulfstream and he’s trained well for this,” Pletcher said. “We’re excited to have him back. He obviously had a big year last year and accomplished a lot in a short period of time. He showed he’s one of the most talented of his generation, so we’re happy to get him going.”

Steal Sunshine is the 7-2 second program choice. The 6-year-old, also by Constitution, drew the rail in last year’s race and trailed early before rallying for a popular nose triumph over Grade 3 winner Tumbarumba.

After back-to-back starts around two turns, including a sixth in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup (G1) Jan. 25 last out, Steal Sunshine returns to a distance where he is 6-for-11 lifetime. He has five wins and two thirds in nine tries over the course and owns a 20: 6-2-6 record at Gulfstream.

“One turn at Gulfstream is his game,” trainer Bobby Dibona said. “Last time in the Pegasus, the owners really wanted to run in there. We took a shot. He picked off a few horses and finished up good. Other than the winner he got beat three lengths against some of the better horses out there, so I’m feeling pretty good.”

Paco Lopez, up for last year’s Gulfstream Park Mile, gets the return call from post 7.

“He’s doing really good,” Dibona said. “I’m glad to have Paco back on him. This horse is a little funny and leaves himself a little too much work to do sometimes. I don’t know why, but Paco’s worked him the last couple times. He said he’s bigger and stronger than last year, so he’s got confidence in him. There’s some pace in the race so he’ll make his run. If we’re lucky, he’ll get there.”

Encino takes a four-race win streak into the Gulfstream Park Mile. The 4-year-old son of 2016 Florida Derby (G1) and Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist is a neck shy of being undefeated in five races, the first three on synthetic before winning the 1 1/16-mile Lexington (G3) last April in his dirt debut. He did not race again until a front-running one-length optional claiming allowance victory Jan. 16 at Fair Grounds.

Completing the field are Lightning Tones, Secret Chat and Awesome Train, respectively first, third and fifth in the 1 1/16-mile Sunshine Classic Jan. 11 at Gulfstream; stakes winners Lure Him In and Shaq Diesel; and Counterspy.