Apart Faces Mission Impazible in Mineshaft
Last year’s Grade II Super Derby winner Apart, owned by Adele Dilschneider, and 2010 Grade II Louisiana Derby hero Mission Impazible, owned by Twin Creeks Racing Stable, are set to match strides in Saturday’s Grade III Mineshaft Handicap at Fair Grounds.
Apart, the 2-1 early choice in the morning line, will be ridden by Jesse Campbell with 120 pounds, while 3-1 second choice Mission Impazible gets 118 pounds and the riding services of Rajiv Maragh.
After winning the 2010 Louisiana Derby, Mission Impazible finished 9th in the Kentucky Derby and that ended up being his final start of the season. He returned with an encouraging place finish in a flat mile Optional Claiming event at Gulfstream Park Jan 23 and completed his Mineshaft preparations with an easy four furlong breeze in :49.30 at Palm Meadows Training Center on Feb 13.
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Completing the Mineshaft field is the Jim Tafel-owned coupling of Fast Alex (114) , Shaun Bridgmohan and Country Flavor (118), Shane Sellers (both at 6-1); Amerman Racing Stable’s Demarcation (119), Rosie Napravnik (7-2); Michael Stinson’s Le Grand Cru (115), Jamie Theriot (12-1); Zayat Stables’ Z Humor (115), Gerard Melancon (10-1); Cudney Stables and John Gunther’s Midnight Mischief (113), Julien Leparoux (12-1); and Bonnie Heath Farm et al.’s Mad Flatter (114), James Graham (12-1).
IRISH-BRED LOUP BRETON FAVORED ON GRASS IN FAIR GROUNDS
HANDICAP
Irish-bred Loup Breton, the Wildenstein Stable color bearer who finished third by a neck in Churchill Downs’ Grade I Woodford Reserve Turf Classic on Kentucky Derby Day last spring, has been installed as the 3-1 choice in Saturday s’ Grade III Fair Grounds Handicap over the Stall-Wilson turf course and gets in with 120 pounds including jockey Rajiv Maragh.
Other in the Fair Grounds Handicap are: David Holloway’s Dubious Miss (117), Corey Lanerie (8-1); Michael Stinson’s Le Grand Cru (116), Jamie Theriot (20-1); Alex and JoAnn Lieblong’s Telling (122), Mike Smith (6-1); Feel the Thunder Stable’s Gran Estreno (121), James Graham (5-1); George and Lori Hall’s Sleepless Knight (116), Joe Bravo (8-1); Cudney Stables’ and John Gunther’s Midnight Mischief (116), Julien Leparoux (12-1); Henry Pabst’s Joinem (115), Shaun Bridgmohan (10-1); Estrorace’s Workin for Hops (118), Rosie Napravnik (9-2); W. S. Farish’s Hidden Glance (115), Brian Hernandez Jr. (20-1); Millennium Farms and Mike McCarty’s Expansion (118), Gerard Melancon (15-1); and Rose Mary Chandler’s Skip a Smile (113), Eddie Martin Jr. (30-1).
TWO SPRINTS COMPLETE SATURDAY’S STAKES SEXTET
The 24th running of the $60,000 Colonel Power Stakes at about 5 1/ 2 furlongs over the Stall-Wilson turf course and the 44th renewal of the $60,000 Pan Zareta Stakes for older fillies and mares on the main track complete Saturday’s stakes sextet at Fair Grounds.
Named to the Colonel Power Stakes are the favored Steve Margolis-trained coupling of Due Date and Cash Refund at 8-5 in the morning line; Delano, (6-1); Sweetsouthernmoon (8-1); Royal Express (10-1); Don’t Shoot (10-1); Strike Impact (8-1); Southern Region, (8-1); and Mambo Galliano (7-2).
From the rail out in the Pan Zareta Stakes are: Moontune Missy (3-1); Simplify (7-2); Eagle Putt (8-1); Smoky Belle (6-1); Greeley’s Rocket (8-1); Wild About Marie (5-1); Hello Monday (12-1); and Beautician (4-1).