Nates Mineshaft Eyes Second Mineshaft Win

Nates Mineshaft did his sire proud when upsetting the 2012 Mineshaft Handicap (gr. III) as the longest shot on the board. On Feb. 21 he'll be a price again in this year's $125,000 renewal at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

 

Nates Mineshaft is by Mineshaft  , the 2003 Horse of the Year and champion older male for whom the race is named.

 

The Mineshaft was one of four races Nates Mineshaft won in 2012, also taking the New Orleans Handicap (gr. II) at Fair Grounds and the Lone Star Park Handicap (gr. III) as well as a Fair Grounds allowance/optional claiming race while earning $560,490 during the season.

 

However, since 2012, Nates Mineshaft, an 8-year-old ridgling, has won two of 11 starts and is coming off a fourth-place finish to Hard Aces in the Jan. 17 Louisiana Handicap, in which he set the pace before tiring at Fair Grounds.

 

Still he figures to be prominent from the start under jockey Miguel Mena breaking from post seven in the 12-horse field, trying to win the Mineshaft for the second time in his career.

 

Nates Mineshaft is also cross-entered in the $60,000 Duncan F. Kenner Stakes at six furlongs earlier in the card.

 

Grade I winner Majestic Harbor will look to return to the winner's circle for the first time since taking the 2014 Gold Cup at Santa Anita Stakes (gr. I).

 

The 7-year-old ships in from California returning to Fair Grounds, where he broke his maiden in his third career start on Feb. 12, 2011.

 

Owned by Gallant Stable, Majestic Harbor will also be returning to the barn of Paul McGee, who trained the son of Rockport Harbor for the first four years of his career before he went to train in California last year for trainer Sean McCarthy.

 

It was in the Gold Cup where Majestic Harbor won the biggest race of his career, drawing off to prevail by 6 1/4 lengths for McCarthy.

 

Since that upset, Majestic Harbor has gone winless in his subsequent five starts, including a last-place finish in the San Marcos Stakes (gr. IIT) Feb. 7 at Santa Anita Park.

 

Majestic Harbor will break from post three in the 1 1/16-mile Mineshaft.

 

WinStar Farm and Twin Creeks Racing's Red Rifle will be the starting highweight in the Mineshaft, carrying 119 pounds, including jockey Rafael Bejarano.

 

The 5-year-old Giant's Causeway   gelding hasn't started since taking the Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap (gr. II) on Nov. 29 of last year for trainer Todd Pletcher. The five-time winner on dirt, turf, and synthetic surfaces will break from post six.

 

Dreamchaser Thorobreds' Hard Aces drew the rail in the Mineshaft. The 5-year-old son of Hard Spun   will look to win his fourth career race on Fair Grounds main track. Jose Riquelme, who was aboard for the Louisiana victory, gets the return call.