Nates Mineshaft Proves Best at Fair Grounds

Windy Hill Farm’s Nates Mineshaft, away alertly and quickly in command, made the pace in Thursday’s $51,000 allowance optional $40,000 claiming feature at Fair Grounds and tallied by a comfortable 2 3/4-length margin at the wire.

Trained by Austin Smith and ridden by Jesse Campbell, the 5-year-old Mineshaft ridgling toured the mile and 70 yard distance in 1:41.94 after establishing early fractions of 23.81 and 48.13. He returned mutuels of $7.20, $3 and $2.80 and increased his career earnings to $105,324 with his fourth win in 11 lifetime starts.

Z Thoroughbreds’ Infrattini rallied late to gain the place as the choice of the fans, paying $2.60 and $2.40 while finishing 4 1/4-lengths in front of Bob Gary Racing’s Prospect Knight, who returned $5.40 to show.

Racing resumes Friday at Fair Grounds for the second of six Starlight Racing programs this season and features a special 5 p.m. first post time for the nine-race card.