From the Gridiron to the Racetrack: A Horse Named After Heisman Winner Fernando Mendoza
Fernando Mendoza’s name is already etched in college football history. Now, it’s galloping into a whole new arena.
Just days after the Indiana quarterback took home the Heisman Trophy, one of the sport’s most recognizable names in horse racing - Bob Baffert - is preparing to train a thoroughbred named in Mendoza’s honor. Yes, you read that right: a racehorse named Mendoza will be hitting the track next year, and the colt’s bloodlines are as elite as the quarterback he’s named after.
The idea came from Tom Ryan, managing partner for SF Racing and a key figure in Team Baffert’s operation. After watching Mendoza’s emotional and inspiring Heisman acceptance speech, Ryan saw more than just a football star - he saw a name that belonged in the winner’s circle.
“Fernando Mendoza is a star in the world’s most American sport,” Ryan posted on social media. “An incredibly talented young man who can inspire millions of young NFL fans.
When I watched Mendoza's post-Heisman interview, it felt like a perfect fit. Here’s to a great 2026 for the man and the horse.”
It’s not just the name that carries weight - the horse’s pedigree is championship-caliber. The sire?
Gun Runner, a powerhouse on the track with 12 career wins, including the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Classic. The dam?
Songbird, a dominant force in her own right with 13 victories and two Eclipse Awards to her name. That kind of lineage is as close as horse racing gets to a five-star recruit.
Now, under the guidance of Baffert - a Hall of Fame trainer with a resume that includes multiple Triple Crown winners - Mendoza the horse is set to begin training in 2026. It’s a fitting crossover moment: one of college football’s brightest young stars lending his name to a colt with the potential to make noise in one of America’s oldest sports traditions.
The connection between football and horse racing might seem like an unlikely pairing, but there’s something poetic about it. Both demand precision, power, and poise under pressure. And just like the quarterback who led the Hoosiers to glory this fall, this young racehorse will soon face his own high-stakes moments - this time, under the bright lights of the track.
We’ll see whether Mendoza the horse can live up to the name. But if the quarterback’s rise is any indication, don’t count him out.