The Belmont Stakes is the demanding final race of horse racing’s celebrated Triple Crown series. It has taken a captivating twist when an unexpected contender has remarkably captured the imagination of fans everywhere. While pre-race narratives understandably focused on the elite, widely touted contenders, this gritty upstart’s remarkable ascension has stolen the spotlight.

As excitement mounts for the thrilling race for 2024, a popular X poll posed the question “Most likely to upset Sierra Leone in Belmont Stakes,” where the options were Antiquarian, Mindframe, Mystik Dan, and Seize the Grey. In an astonishing turn of events, the three-year-old colt, Mindframe, surged to the front as the resounding favorite with an eye-popping 39.9% of votes.

The other candidates featured in the poll failed to inspire fans like the surging Mindframe. The classy but erratic Antiquarian garnered a respectable 22.2% share, while the shot-in-the-dark Seize the Grey nabbed 19.8% of votes. Perhaps most shockingly, the seemingly unstoppable Mystik Dan limped in with a paltry 18.8% of fan support.

Mindframe is a 3-year-old colt bred by R. Larry Johnson, sired by Constitution, while his dam is Walk of Stars. Trained by Todd A. Pletcher, Mindframe has participated in races at prominent racetracks such as Churchill Downs and Gulfstream Park throughout his racing career, achieving victories at both venues.

Owned in partnership by Mike Repole and Vinnie and Teresa Viola, Mindframe has won both of its starts convincingly. On the same day, Fierceness dominated the Grade 1 Florida Derby, Mindframe captured a maiden race by a staggering 13 3/4 lengths, earning a stellar 103 Beyer Speed Figure – the highest among potential Belmont entrants. On Kentucky Derby day, Mindframe followed up with a 7 1/2-length victory in an allowance race at Churchill Downs, garnering a 97 Beyer.

Rising star to face stern test in Belmont Stakes against seasoned competitors

In the Belmont, the lightly raced Mindframe is expected to face formidable opponents like Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan, Preakness victor Seize the Grey, and Derby runner-up Sierra Leone. Despite his relative inexperience, Pletcher acknowledges Mindframe’s immense talent and believes his impressive margins of victory and swift times suggest he could compete with the top contenders.

Addressing the question of whether the horse in question can compete at the highest level, Pletcher who has an impressive record of success in the prestigious Belmont Stakes race, acknowledged the significant challenge “that’s the $2 million question.” He continued to say “He obviously has enormous talent, but he’s run in a maiden race and a mile-and-a-sixteenth allowance race. He’s running against the best 3-year-olds in the crop. They’re all more seasoned and more experienced than him. It’s asking a lot, but you’re talking about a horse that’s not only winning by impressive margins but running pretty fast times as well. [Speed] figures suggest he certainly fits with the top of the group.”

Mindframe had a delayed start to his career but has quickly made up ground. While facing seasoned rivals in just his third start is a significant challenge, Pletcher and his connections are intrigued by Mindframe’s potential and eager to see how he fares in the Belmont Stakes.