Mineshaft Stakes – Grade III
FG Race #9 1 1/16m Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $200.000 For Four Year Olds And Upward.

1 Torque Converter Nakamura Stables Carrasco V R

Anything from this stable is a contender at this level and this is no exception. Working 1.36 flat for the dirt mile it is hard to believe he has only won 3 from 17 but the Nak factor seems to have found a bit of life in him recently and i wouldn’t be surprised if he used this draw and was right in the finish.

2 Crack Dab Gdp Inc Stein J

Worked five furlongs like a sprinter on the 6th of this month but we know with a glance at his form that he is a top class router. The winner of the Pacific Classic last year he had a pipe opener in the LA Stakes when flying home from wide for third so with the perfect draw today i would have to make him one of the best chances.

3 Class Edge Chili King Stables Saez L

Beat Crack Dab in teh BC Classic last year and was of course the runner up in that ridiculous KYD last year. My worry with him is that his last win came in the BG Stakes last April and he has taken a while to recover from that KYD effort. If he is back to his best he must be right up with Crack Dab as a main chance.

4 Twilight Flame Mb Stables Velazquez J R

A real consistent sort though his form may look a length off the principal runners he is just the sort that can get a dream run and take them out. Working in the ball park he will have the help of Mb guiding him through the new race engine.

5 Deliberation Angelos Stable Saez G

Another consistent sort this admirable seven year old has won 15 races from 38 go’s and is just the sort to give these a go at this time of year. Generally competing at a lower level, certainly recently, there isn’t really a lower level here at HRP so that is not a problem to his chances. I rather like him to run well at odds.

6 Mo Town Spankys Barn – Scratch –

7 Foolish Peasure D J C Racing Stables Gaffalione T

Hit a purple patch at the end of last year winning three in a row albeit at a lower grade than this. Believe it or not he worked a 1.35 and 4 for the dirt mile which is pretty incredible when you consider the grade one winners in the field haven’t got near that. If he runs like he works he could be an upset winner.

8 Telladifferentstory Nakamura Stables Beschizza A

Another from the Nakamura yard he is another that has been running well at this level but struggles to win. He made up ground nicely in the Hooper last time but again faces a sticky draw and may again find his run comes too late.

9 Range Of The Sun John Henry Bahen S R

This excellent son of Cherokee Sunset has been around forever and has been super consistent at this level. His recent form has dropped off a bit but a recent 1.36 and 1 work suggests he isn’t far off his best. The draw will make it tough but his best effort see’s him a winner.

10 Home Spirit Night Rider Stables Bridgmohan S X

A lightly raced progressive four year old we haven’t seen the sort of form that can win this race from the outside draw but i am sure his trainer will have him ready to do his best.

SUMMARY

On paper this looks between Class Edge and Crack Dab with maybe Crack Dab having the upper hand. Having said that though i am nervous about that super work that Foolish Pleasure put in and if the odds are right i may be taking a bit of each way about him running a big race.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES