Nate's Mineshaft Takes Aim at Louisiana Hcp

Windy Hill Farm’s 8-year-old ridgling warrior Nates Mineshaft put the final touches on his preparation for a return to what was once his greatest stage – two turns on the Fair Grounds Race Course dirt. The son of Mineshaft – between Jan. 2011 and April 2012 – won all five of his starts at the local course from distances of one mile and 70 yards to 1 1/8 miles, including two graded stakes. To this date, the bay nine-time winner is the track record holder for the latter with a time of 1:47.64 earned in the Grade II New Orleans Handicap in 2012. 

Next Saturday, ‘Nate’ – as he is known at the barn of trainer Anne Smith – will line up once again in front of the New Orleans oval’s stands in an attempt to win the Listed $75,000 Louisiana Handicap – the only race of Fair Grounds’ triad of handicap division stakes that he has not won. On Saturday morning he continued his preparation when working a half-mile in :49.80 over a deep surface – good for 12th-best of 68 four-furlong moves.

“He worked really well this morning with Brian (Hernandez, Jr.),” Smith said. “We feel ready to stretch him out.” Hernandez is likely to ride the three-time graded stakes winner in the 69th renewal of the Louisiana.

A bona fide front-runner in his best performances, the earner of nearly three-quarters of a million dollars will most likely fill that role again next week. 

“It would mean the world to me have him run well,” Smith said. “It would be amazing to win. He tries so hard for everyone. Every day to see his face and be around him is a privilege and to train him is a pleasure. He means a lot to us.”

Source: Fair Grounds Barn Notes