Mineshaft Stakes – Grade III

    FG           Race #11       1 1/16m          Dirt                      Graded Stake

Purse $250.000  For Four Year Olds And Upward.

1 Wild Card Weekend           Night Rider Stables        Carmouche K               123

Well if ever there was a horse that improved for a different owner it is this one. Campaigned on the turf after an unsuccessful stint on the dirt he was claimed for just $6.000 by this canny trainer and since then has set the world alite with two great wins, the last being in the grade two Pincay. Clearly Night Rider has found the magic formula as his works and form have literally the look of a different horse and he comes here with a perfect opportunity to further enhance his spectacular improvement. He looks a big chance from the ace draw to make it three from three.                       

2 Cheap Ways                  Riggins Racing            Smith M E                       123               

A 37 race veteran he has won 12 and in his seventh year looks as good as ever after winning the LA Stakes last time. He is the sort of consistent type we would all like to own but his deep closing style has probably cost him a couple more wins on this engine and he will need luck to find a winning run from this gate. If he gets it, he has a win chance.                             

3 Big Bang Boom                Rock Creek                    Husbands P                  123                     

A good winner of the OP Handicap, he went on to finish second in the Whitney but lost his way a bit after that.  He was given a gentle come back race at Hou where he stalked the lead and ran out well enough to win, he proved he is going to be fit and ready today but he will have to be back to his best to win. Every chance but with just five wins from twenty-three starts he doesn’t win as often as some. 

4 American Nightmare     D J C Racing Stables           Bejarano R                      123

Took the Hopper a short while back and gets a quick turn round into this. A good winner of the turf sprint, The Eddie D, last year he clearly operates on both surfaces and over any trip and that last win seems to signify that he is ready for a big five-year-old season, One of the many chances here.

5 Diametric                     Mb Stables               Velazquez J R                               123                     

Another that has turned five so will be hoping to kick on from last year he ended the season well by winning the Fayette and running third in the Clark so looks to be heading in the right direction. Like most of the others he is working strongly and makes it five from five so far with a winning chance.                               

6 Power Grid                   The Sidley Stud                  Lopez P                           123                     

A deep closing type he will need to improve on his third in the Hopper last time although he was pretty eye catching at the end of that race and can produce a strong finish if the race suits. After a strong three-year-old season that saw him in the KYD he struggled at four, as some can, so could find that improvement curve again this year. One to watch.                          

7 Mask Of Agamemnon          Tockyocky                       Geroux F                         123

Perhaps it is PTSD from the old days at HRP but I am always wary of lightly raced four-year-olds and with only four starts this one falls into that category.  Winning his last three in lesser grade he is certainly working like he can be a part of the finish here but will need to prove he has the class gene first.                      

8 Disciplinary               Nakamura Stables                    Castillo I                         123

Fifth in the BC Dirt Mile last year and second in the LA Stakes on seasonal debut he is a 12-race winning seven-year-old that just adds to the puzzle of this race.  A decent sort he doesn’t stand out against this field but certainly falls into the ‘chance’ category and will be rock hard fit. I am not sure the draw will really help him but he could use it to lead this field and in a race with a lot of closers in it he may slip away from them.                   

9 Alive                  Arindel                              Curtis B                           123                     

Another one who may try and lead from the draw he does have some good form to his name and with eleven wins won’t be without supporters. Third in the Pincay last time on an off track he will be better on a faster surface and cannot be written off even from the car park.

SUMMARY

This is a very difficult race to decipher with so many looking like they could establish themselves as a BC Classic type with a good performance today. Diametric certainly has more potential than some and American Nightmare was impressive last time so they may be the easiest choices but the rapid improvement of Wild Card Weekend and the established form of Big Bang Boom and Cheap Ways are certainly big chances. I think pace will be key here with a few of the better ones being closers and it may end up being an on-speed race if the leaders can get away with a soft tempo.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES