Latest news with #StephenFoster
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Repole Stables' Mindframe, Fierceness Work Toward Saratoga Grade 1s
Repole Stables' Mindframe, Fierceness Work Toward Saratoga Grade 1s originally appeared on Paulick Report. Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables' Mindframe, the last-out Grade 1 Stephen Foster-winner on June 28 at Churchill Downs, completed his first breeze back when covering a half-mile in 52.46 seconds on Friday, July 18, over the main track at Saratoga Race by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, the 4-year-old Constitution dark bay currently leads the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Top Thoroughbred Poll following wins in the nine-furlong Stephen Foster and the seven-furlong G1 Churchill Downs on May 3. Mindframe is 3-for-3 this year, also capturing the G2 Gulfstream Park Mile in March, among his 7-5-2-0 lifetime record with over $1.8 million in earnings.'We were just looking to get an easy half in, he went by himself,' Pletcher said of Friday's work. 'He does whatever you ask him to do. He is cool that way. He goes easy if you want him to go easy, fast if you want him to go fast.' On Aug. 2, Saratoga hosts the G1, $1 million Whitney, a nine-furlong main track test for older horses, offering a 'Win and You're In' berth to the G1 Breeders' Cup Classic in November at Del Mar. The question for Pletcher has been whether or not Mindframe could run there alongside Fierceness, who has been reported to be targeting the race for Repole Stable, Derrick Smith, Michael Tabor, and Mrs. John Magnier.'I've got to gather up with the connections. We are still a couple weeks away, but he is a fit horse coming out of the Foster win. We don't have to do a lot with him if we did decide to run in the Whitney,' Pletcher if he'd like running Mindframe and Fierceness against each other in the Whitney, Pletcher said, 'Ideally, no. We'd split them up, so if we decide to wait for the [G1] Jockey Club Gold Cup with him [Mindframe], that would be one way of splitting them up.'The G1, $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup, a 10-furlong 'Win and You're In' event for the Breeders' Cup Classic, is run on Aug. 31 at the Spa.'Fierceness hasn't run since the Met Mile, so we have always been pointing him towards the Whitney,' Pletcher said. Fierceness worked Friday over the main track, covering five furlongs in 1:01.70 in company with Dreamlike.'He worked terrific today. He is giving us every indication he is on target for it [the Whitney],' said Pletcher. 'I'd say if he stays that way, that would probably give us a good reason to wait a little longer on Mindframe and give him a little extra time off a huge effort shipping to Churchill.' Fierceness, the multiple G1-winning 4-year-old City of Light colt and the 2023 Champion 2-Year-Old Male, last ran second in the one-mile G1 Metropolitan Handicap here after a track-record setting win in the 1 1/16-mile G2 Alysheba on May 2 at Churchill Downs.'I thought he worked terrific, like he always does, he finished up nicely and put in a huge gallop out, moving great, doing everything you'd like to see,' Pletcher has earned in excess of $4.5 million through an 11-6-2-1 record, including a head score over subsequent Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna in the G1, $1.25 million DraftKings Travers in August here. This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Jul 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
Forbes
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Stephen Foster Stakes All About A Mindframe
Mind frame proved himself as a classic distance horse in the Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs The Stephen Foster has long been a Stakes race that showcases talent. Sometimes it has been an affirmation race and for others it serves as an arrival. The 44th running of this test for older horses at Churchill Downs on June 28 was a red-carpet rendition for a runner that has now arrived as a major player in the Classic distance division. An imposing figure physically, Mindframe came into the $1 million Foster as a runner with considerable potential, but still unproven at the classic distances of a mile and an eighth or better. Unraced at two and having been just about a length and a half away from grade 1 glory in both the Belmont Stakes and Haskell Invitational at three, his four-year old campaign had began with graded stakes wins at a mile (Gulfstream Park Mile) and seven furlongs (Churchill Downs Stakes). Yes, his four wins and two seconds in six lifetime starts were impressive, but could this somewhat lightly raced Maryland-bred get it done at that longer distance? As a 'win and you're in' qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Classic, the Foster, with perhaps the saltiest field in race history, served as an excellent proving ground. Always considered as being of a talented Mindframe, this Todd Petcher trained son of Constitution responded in a big way. Facing the 2024 Kentucky Derby champ, 2024 Breeders' Cup Classic winner, 2025 Oaklawn Handicap victor, and 2025 Dubai World Cup winner, the Mindframe had to be right. Understanding the field he was facing, jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. immediately put his horse in the race as he stalked a somewhat moderate early pace (23.94 opening quarter, 47.94 half mile) set by First Mission. As the race unfolded, the talent exuded and the pace quickened. Rolling through quicker fractions for the next two quarter miles (23.53 third and 23.47 fourth), Pletcher's masterfully prepared runner assumed command and opened up by two lengths at the top of the stretch. As his powerful stride lengthened and the wire drew ever closer, it was obvious this multi-talented grandson of Street Sense is the Mindframe he was thought to be. Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. handled his Mindframe in fine fashion Finishing a geared down length ahead Sierra Leone, Mindframe picked up $552,420 in earnings along with his third win of 2025 in three starts at three different distances. Having been bet down to post time favoritism, this Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables owned four-year-old returned $5.76 on a $2 win wager. 'What a fantastic effort against a stellar field', says trainer Todd Pletcher. 'To win back-to-back grade 1 races at seven furlongs and then nine furlongs is a remarkable achievement.' With an automatic berth to the Breeders' Cup Classic secured, the next steps toward those World Championships are to be determined. But what the 44th running of the Foster proved was if the Mindframe is right, the sky is the limit.
Forbes
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Stephen Foster Tops Charts On Closing Weekend At Churchill Downs
Kentucky Derby 150 champion Mystik Dan headlines a star studded Foster field The Stephen Foster has long been one of the signature races of the Churchill Downs Spring Meet. Run since 1982, this mile and an eighth test for older horses on dirt began to really climb the charts in 1998 when the purse was bumped to an eye-popping $750,000. Always considered a logical launching pad for the Breeders' Cup Classic, this race gained even more importance with the implementation of the 'Win and You're In' program in 2010. That means the horse that plays a winning tune in the Stephen Foster gets a fees paid automatic entry into the richest race run on American soil. The 44th running of the Foster will take place on June 28 and features a field that makes it a chart topper. It highlights an action-packed card that features six super competitive Stakes races on the final Saturday of the 2025 Spring Meet. Top action on both turf and dirt will be spinning the hits on this Super Saturday. The grade 2 Fleur De Lis goes off as race 7 and offers an automatic berth to the Breeders' Cup Distaff starting gates on November 1. Reigning Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna will take on four other talented females as they fight for their share of $500,000 in purse money. 2024 Kentucky Oaks champ and Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna runs in the Fleur De Lis on June 28The Kelly's Landing Stakes will feature West Coast invader Dr. Venkman as he takes on seven rivals in this six-and-a-half-furlong sprint race on dirt. Going off as race 9, these older males will dash for $250,000 in cash. Race 10 will be the grade 2 Wise Dan stakes for older males on turf. Named for one of the greatest grass runners ever ( 17 wins 2 seconds in his last 19 career starts), this mile and a sixteenth tussle on the turf features seven Stakes winners in the nine-horse field. The album cover song of the day is race 11, the grade 1 Stephen Foster. Six of the seven entrants are graded stakes winners. Included in this super six are the top two finishers in the 2024 Kentucky Derby (Mystik Dan, Sierra Leone), the Dubai World Cup winner (Hit Show), a four-time graded Stakes winner (First Mission), the 2025 Hollywood Gold Cup winner (Skippylongstocking), and the 2025 Churchill Downs Stakes winner (Mindframe). As further testament to the quality of this field, the entrants have just over $26 million in career on-track earnings. 'When you line up the winner of Kentucky Derby 150 against the Grade 1 winners of the Breeders' Cup Classic, Dubai World Cup, and Churchill Downs Stakes as well as the Oaklawn Handicap and Hollywood Gold Cup winners, you have the making of what could be the race of the year', says Darren Rogers, senior director of communications for Churchill Downs. The day concludes with the American Derby in race 12. Three-year-old males go a mile and a sixteenth on grass with eyes on a $250,000 purse. Featured in this tantalizing ten horse field will be 2025 Kentucky Derby entrants Flying Mohawk and Tiztastic. The competition promises to be fierce and the speculation opportunities numerous. The final six races on the card are all Stakes races and this will make up the 20-cent pick six. Also, an All-Stakes $3 turf pick 3 will be featured on closing weekend. First post on June 28 will be at 12:45 eastern time.
Forbes
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Brian Wilson Embodied The Warmth Of The Sun
God only knows what we'd be without the music of Brian Wilson. What good is the dawn, that grows into day; the sunset at night, or living this way. For I have the warmth of the sun, within me at night. Brian Wilson, who died on June 11, overcame immense life challenges to share 'the warmth of the sun' with multiple generations of fans, throughout his near 60 year career. And despite his passing, his musical and cultural significance is guaranteed to continue, with the consistency and majesty of waves rolling across the sea. Wilson's place in American history is primarily as the leader of The Beach Boys, one of the most influential bands in rock n' roll history. As the band's principal composer, his mastery of harmonies was principally responsible for the 'sound' that led to the sale of over 100 million records globally, including over 33 RIAA Platinum and Gold Records. His 1965 masterpiece 'Pet Sounds' is generally recognized as one of the top two or three album recordings in popular music history. Wilson also achieved fame with his extraordinary achievements in musical production and arrangement. His ability to use the voices of his bandmates as musical instruments themselves, and his willingness to incorporate professional musicians (e.g., the famous 'Wrecking Crew') set the standard for record production for a generation. It's no stretch to describe Wilson as the modern day equivalent of Stephen Foster, referred to as 'the father of American music'. But Wilson's legacy extends far beyond his achievements as a composer and performer. It extends to the broader meaning of the music, his related impact on American culture and his courageous battle to overcome crippling mental illness. Wilson once attributed the success of the Beach Boys to how the music 'celebrated the joy of life in a real, simple way.' And that they did, whether it involved a surfboard, a T-Bird or 'girls on the beach'. Aspects of Wilson's music as sung by his band can be found in many aspects of our daily life; it's hard not to watch television or a movie, or listen to the radio, and not hear some reflection of Wilson and The Beach Boys' music. Beyond the music, few artists have had such a significant impact on American culture than did Wilson. The band's early focus on an 'Endless Summer', with its lifestyle of sunshine, surfing, cars and young romance contributed enormously to the explosive 1960s attraction of Southern California as a magical destination. If everybody had an ocean…across the USA, then everybody'd be surfin', like Californ-i-a…Wilson's music moved people, both figuratively and literally. And as Wilson's listeners grew older and confronted more serious emotions than life at the beach, his music evolved to address what they ‒ and he ‒ were feeling. The enduring attraction of Pet Sounds is found in the way in which Wilson, and his lyricist Tony Asher, reflected 'coming of age' sensitivities within a lush orchestral mixture. Rolling Stone described it as '…an intense, linear personal vision of the vagaries of a love affair and the painful, introverted anxieties that are the wrenching precipitates of the unstable chemistry of any love relationship.' Yet the most understated aspect of Wilson's life was his ability to write such joyous harmonies while suffering from the traumas of an abusive father and mental challenges ultimately diagnosed as schizoaffective disorder and depression. These challenges were exacerbated by the drug abuse so typical of artists of that era. And they were exploited in near-legendary manner by a controversial 'celebrity psychologist'. That Wilson was able to prevail for decades against such pressures is a testament to both his personal courage and his artistic commitment. When many would have abandoned their careers when confronted by such barriers, Wilson persevered. His ability to complete the legendary Smile album, after 40 years of suspended work, gave hope to others struggling with similar conditions. Of course Wilson was not the sole messenger of his music; full credit is due to his lifelong band mates: brothers Carl and Dennis, cousin Mike Love and friends Alan Jardine and Bruce Johnston. There could be no substitutes. Indeed, Love's autobiography tells of the remark one-time Beach Boy Glen Campbell once made to Johnny Carson, that 'The Beach Boys' music will never die'. Carson retorted that 'Everyone has to die. Even the Beach Boys have to die sometime'. And certainly they do, at least from a bodily perspective. But the spirit of their music, as crafted by Brian Wilson, will undoubtedly live on as long as American popular music is chronicled. My love's like the warmth of the sun; it won't ever die.
CTV News
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
New filmed in N.B. TV series premieres Thursday
The latest made in New Brunswick production will be hitting the television screens Thursday night. REVIVAL stars award winning Canadian actress, Melanie Scrofano, and is based on the graphic novel series of the same name. The series consists of ten hour-long episodes, all of which were filmed in southern New Brunswick. 'This has been a number of years leading up to this moment for us to have a TV series of this scale here in New Brunswick produced by our company,' says Greg Hemmings of Hemmings House Pictures. 'So, we're pretty thrilled.' Hemmings, who is also an executive producer of the show, says the series is a 'cult classic' and is based in a sleepy little town called Wausau, Wisconsin. Tensions and fear run high in the community when the recently deceased come back to life and return to town. Dana Cypress, played by Scrafano, stars as a police officer in the centre of the plot. She is tasked with solving a murder where both the living and revived are suspects. Fellow executive producer, Stephen Foster, who is also with Hemmings House Pictures, says Saint John works as a perfect backdrop for the setting. 'You just got to not point the cameras at the Bay of Fundy, that's the only trick,' Foster jokes. Southern New Brunswick viewers will likely recognized some locations with filming being done around uptown Saint John, and in neighbouring communities like Grand Bay-Westfield, Hampton, and Sussex, N.B. Filming for the series saw over 200 New Brunswickers find full-time work for the production and over 400 part-time workers, says Foster. There were also 51 people who experienced working in the industry for the first time during production. One of those was 9-year-old, Flora McInroy, from Saint John. McInroy plays the character named Jordan Borchardt. She is one of the youngest people to come back from the dead in town. She was one of over 100 girls to audition for the role in an open casting call, one she only found out about thanks to her mom being a hairstylist for production. She says being her first time acting, she never expected to get the part. 'I just can't believe it,' McInroy admits on the thought of starring in a TV series in her hometown. 'I'm very proud of myself for being able to do this, and I'm very thankful and grateful for just being able to do this, meeting other people, being able to share this experience and share the work that everyone has worked so hard on.' She, like Foster and Hemmings, hope REVIVAL is the first of many big productions to be filmed in the province in the months and years ahead. McInroy notes she may never have gotten the chance to act had it not been for the local production. 'These aren't just beer and pizza paying jobs,' points out Foster. 'These are union scale jobs. These are jobs that you can get a mortgage on and we're continuing to urge the government to continue to participate with us on this.' The show debuts Thursday at 11 p.m. Atlantic time on the CTV Sci-Fi Channel and is streaming the next day on Crave. A free community public screening of the first two episodes will be held in Saint John on Friday June 27. REVIVAL REVIVAL, a new TV series filmed in Saint John, N.B. premiers this Thursday. (CTV Atlantic/ Avery MacRae) For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
