Pace Will Make the Race in Mineshaft, Fair Grounds
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Photo: Hodges Photography / Amanda Hodges Weir
Strong Quality wins the Colonel E.R. Bradley Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
Pace will prove a key piece to victory for older stakes horses at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Feb. 17 as two fields feature strong closers and an expected clear pacesetter.
Winchell Thoroughbreds' Red Route One looks for his first victory since the West Virginia Derby (G3) in the 1 1/16-mile, $250,000 Mineshaft Stakes (G3).
The 4-year-old son of Gun Runner was best of the rest Jan. 20 at the Fair Grounds when second in the Louisiana Stakes (G3), 5 3/4 lengths behind loose frontrunner and Saudi Cup (G1) hopeful Saudi Crown . Battling for second with Neil Pessin's deep closer Happy American , Red Route One edged clear late to be the runner-up by a half-length.
Video: Louisiana S. Presented by Relyne GI By Hagyard (G3)
Riding a colt usually known for his closing kick, Joel Rosario kept him a little closer through the early stages. Rosario may need to use the same tactics here as the pace appears on paper to be controlled by Gary and Mary West's graded stakes winner Best Actor , who enters off two front-running triumphs in allowance company.
Lucky Seven Stable's Smile Happy returns as the wild card of the field. On his best day, such as in the Alysheba Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs May 5, he can sit close and surge to an impressive victory against top competition. However, Smile Happy has not seen his best day in either of his last two races, delaying both by several minutes while refusing to go near the starting gate, ultimately leading to a poor performance.
The Mineshaft runs as race 11 with a post time of 4:50 p.m. CT.
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, Saturday, February 17, 2024, Race 11Entries: Mineshaft S. Presented by Relyne GI By Hagyard (G3)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Red Route One (KY)
Joel Rosario
118
Steven M. Asmussen
5/1
2
2Hayes Strike (KY)
David Cohen
118
Kenneth G. McPeek
15/1
3
3Best Actor (KY)
Flavien Prat
120
Brad H. Cox
3/1
4
4Gasoline (KY)
John R. Velazquez
120
Todd A. Pletcher
4/1
5
5Notary (KY)
Reylu Gutierrez
120
Armando Hernandez
8/1
6
6Dubyuhnell (KY)
Luis Saez
120
Danny Gargan
8/1
7
7Money Supply (KY)
Tyler Gaffalione
120
Joe Sharp
8/1
8
8Happy American (KY)
Jareth Loveberry
118
Neil L. Pessin
8/1
9
9Smile Happy (KY)
Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.
118
Kenneth G. McPeek
5/1
The Fair Grounds Stakes
There's no question what the game plan will be for Gary Barber and Kinsman Stable's Strong Quality in the 1 1/8-mile, $175,000 Fair Grounds Stakes (G3T).
The 5-year-old son of Quality Road has attempted to go gate-to-wire in each of his last seven starts, proving successful three times. His assertiveness out of the gate led him to his first stakes victory Jan. 20 in the Colonel E.R. Bradley Stakes at the Fair Grounds. He was chased the whole way and nearly caught by Rob Comestro and Jeff Ganje's Beatbox , who returns for another shot at him.
Video: Colonel E. R. Bradley S. (BT)
After surprising at 22-1 odds in the Secretariat Stakes (G2) Aug. 12 at Colonial Downs, Iapetus Racing and Diamond T Racing's Gigante has proved himself to be a solid runner after back-to-back listed stakes victories, including a win over this course in the Woodchopper Stakes Dec. 30. He is one of two horses entering on a multi-race win streak. Jordan Wycoff's Money Supply makes his graded stakes debut after four straight victories.
The Fair Grounds Stakes is race 12 with post time of 5:19 p.m. CT.