The Mineshaft Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for four-year-olds and older run over a distance of 1+1⁄16 miles on the dirt in mid-February at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, Louisiana. The event currently offers a purse of $250,000.
Grade III race | |
Standort | Fair Grounds Race Course New Orleans, Louisiana, United States |
---|---|
Inaugurated | 1973 (as Whirlaway Handicap) |
Race type | Thoroughbred – Flat racing |
Website | Fair Grounds |
Race information | |
Distance | 1+1⁄16 miles |
Surface | Dirt |
Track | left-handed |
Qualification | Four-years-old and older |
Weight | 124 lbs with allowances |
Purse | $250,000 (2022) |
History
editThe event was inaugurated on 18 February 1973 as the Whirlaway Handicap, a handicap event for three-year-olds and older over a distance of one mile and forty years and was won by the five-year-old Guitar Player who was ridden by Leroy Moyers in a time of 1:412⁄5.[1] The event was named in honor of Whirlaway, the fifth Triple Crown of Horse Racing winner in 1941.
The event became a preparatory race for the Louisiana Handicap and New Orleans Handicap which were held later in the Fair Ground meeting. The first four winners of the event went on and won the Louisiana Handicap. Most notable of these winners was the 1975 Preakness Stakes winner Master Derby who won the event as a short 2/5 odds-on favorite scoring by eight lengths.[2] Master Derby went on to sweep the Louisiana Handicap and New Orleans Handicap.
The event was run in two divisions in 1975 and the winners were both trained and owned in part by Louie J. Roussel III. In 1985 the distance of the event was increased to 1+1⁄16 miles.[3]
The event was not held between 1986 and 1991.[4]
The event was upgraded to Grade III status in 2003.[5]
In 2005 the event was renamed for Hall of Fame inductee Mineshaft, who finished second in the 2003 running to Balto Star.[6] Although Mineshaft was defeated in this event his record of wins that year including the New Orleans Handicap earned him the title American Horse of the Year and U.S. Champion Older Male Horse. His son Nates Mineshaft won this event in 2012.[4]
The event continues to be a major prep for the New Orleans Handicap.[7]
In 2020 the conditions of the event were changed from a handicap, to a stakes race with allowance weight conditions.
Records
editSpeed record:
- 1+1⁄16 miles: 1:42.01 – Olympiad (2022) (New Track Record)
Margins:
- 8 lengths – Master Derby (1976)
Most wins:
- 2 - Silver Dust (2019, 2020)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 3 - Eddie Martin Jr. (1994, 1999, 2003)
- 3 - Robby Albarado (2000, 2002, 2008)
- 3 - Rosie Napravnik (2011, 2013, 2014)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 3 - Louie J. Roussel III (1975 - 2 divisions, 1994)
Most wins by an owner:
- 2 - Louie J. Roussel III (1975, 1994)
- 2 - John A. Franks (1997, 1999)
- 2 - Anstu Stables (2003, 2015)
- 2 - Tom R. Durant (2019, 2020)
Whirlaway/Mineshaft – Louisiana Stakes double:
- Guitar Player (1973), Tom Tulle (1974), Hearts of Lettuce (1975), Master Derby (1976), Bucks Nephew (1996)
Whirlaway/Mineshaft – New Orleans Handicap double:
- Master Derby (1976), Precocity (1999), Include (2001), Master Command (2007), Nates Mineshaft (2012), Honorable Duty (2017), Olympiad (2022)
Winners
editYear | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Zeit | Purse | Grade | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mineshaft Stakes | ||||||||||
2024 | Money Supply | 5 | Tyler Gaffalione | Joe Sharp | Jordan V. Wycoff | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.04 | $247,500 | III | [8] |
2023 | Pioneer of Medina | 4 | Luis Saez | Todd A. Pletcher | Sumaya U.S. Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.59 | $250,000 | III | [9] |
2022 | Olympiad | 4 | Junior Alvarado | William I. Mott | Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stable & LNJ Foxwoods | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.01 | $247,500 | III | [10] |
2021 | Maxfield | 4 | Florent Geroux | Brendan Walsh | Godolphin Racing | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.67 | $200,000 | III | [11] |
2020 | Silver Dust | 6 | Brian Hernandez Jr. | W. Bret Calhoun | Tom R. Durant | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.40 | $200,000 | III | [12] |
Mineshaft Handicap | ||||||||||
2019 | Silver Dust | 5 | Jack Gilligan | W. Bret Calhoun | Tom R. Durant | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.46 | $150,000 | III | [13] |
2018 | The Player | 5 | Calvin H. Borel | William B. Bradley | William B. Bradley & Carl Hurst | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.29 | $147,000 | III | [14] |
2017 | Honorable Duty | 5 | Julien R. Leparoux | Brendan P. Walsh | DARRS | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.03 | $122,500 | III | [15] |
2016 | Majestic Harbor | 8 | Corey J. Lanerie | Paul J. McGee | Gallant Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.86 | $125,000 | III | [16] |
2015 | Street Babe | 4 | Kerwin D. Clark | Michael Dilger | Anstu Stables | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.58 | $125,000 | III | [17] |
2014 | Bradester | 4 | Rosie Napravnik | Eddie Kenneally | Joseph W. Sutton | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.80 | $150,000 | III | [18] |
2013 | Mark Valeski | 4 | Rosie Napravnik | J. Larry Jones | Brereton C. Jones | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.82 | $148,500 | III | [19] |
2012 | Nates Mineshaft | 5 | Jesse M. Campbell | Austin K. Smith | Windy Hill Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.01 | $120,000 | III | [20] |
2011 | Demarcation | 7 | Rosie Napravnik | Paul J. McGee | Amerman Racing | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.45 | $121,250 | III | [21] |
2010 | Stonehouse | 6 | Miguel Mena | Joseph E. Broussard | Richard Rudolph & Michael Vranich | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.09 | $96,000 | III | [22] |
2009 | Honest Man | 5 | Gabriel Saez | J. Larry Jones | Fox Hill Farms | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.16 | $125,000 | III | [23] |
2008 | Grasshopper | 4 | Robby Albarado | Neil J. Howard | William S. Farish III, Edward J. Hudson, Jr. & Estate of James A. Elkins | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.46 | $147,000 | III | [24] |
2007 | Master Command | 5 | John R. Velazquez | Michael W. McCarthy | Aaron U. & Marie D. Jones | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.28 | $194,000 | III | [25] |
2006 | ‡Race not held | |||||||||
2005 | Wanderin Boy | 4 | Larry Melancon | Nicholas P. Zito | Arthur B. Hancock III | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.08 | $100,000 | III | [26] |
Whirlaway Handicap | ||||||||||
2004 | Olmodavor | 5 | Corey J. Lanerie | Richard E. Mandella | Wertheimer et Frere | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.59 | $100,000 | III | [27] |
2003 | Balto Star | 5 | Eddie Martin Jr. | Todd A. Pletcher | Anstu Stables | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.74 | $125,000 | III | [28] |
2002 | Valhol | 6 | Robby Albarado | Dallas E. Keen | James D. Jackson | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.94 | $125,000 | Listed | [29] |
2001 | Include | 4 | Lonnie Meche | Bud Delp | Robert Meyerhoff | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.01 | $125,000 | Listed | [30] |
2000 | Take Note of Me | 6 | Robby Albarado | Gene A. Cilio | Steve Holland & Estate of Barry Shipp | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.94 | $125,000 | Listed | [31] |
1999 | Precocity | 5 | Eddie Martin Jr. | Bobby C. Barnett | John A. Franks | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.42 | $125,000 | Listed | [32] |
1998 | Moonlight Dancer | 6 | Curt C. Bourque | Albert Stall Jr. | Columbine Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.34 | $125,000 | Listed | [33] |
1997 | Byars | 6 | Curt C. Bourque | Bobby C. Barnett | John A. Franks | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.47 | $100,000 | Listed | [34] |
1996 | Bucks Nephew | 6 | Craig Perret | P. Noel Hickey | Irish Acres Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.40 | $63,375 | Listed | [35] |
1995 | Adhocracy | 5 | Larry Melancon | Niall M. O'Callaghan | Centaur Farms | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.10 | $52,550 | Listed | [36] |
1994 | Cool Quaker | 5 | Eddie Martin Jr. | Louie J. Roussel III | Louie J. Roussel III | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.55 | $51,674 | Listed | [37] |
1993 | West by West | 4 | Jean-Luc Samyn | George R. Arnold II | John H. Peace | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.80 | $31,475 | [38] | |
1992 | Irish Swap | 5 | Bruce Edwin Poyadou | Joseph E. Broussard | Randall Hendricks | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.00 | $31,625 | [39] | |
1986–1991 | Race not held | |||||||||
1985 | Rapid Gray | 6 | Randy Romero | William I. Mott | William F. Lucas | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.00 | $25,000 | [40] | |
1982–1984 | Race not held | |||||||||
1981 | Occasionally Monday | 4 | Angelo Trosclair | Jose A. Martin | Randolph Weinsier | 1 mile & 40 yards | 1:40.40 | $25,000 | [41] | |
1980 | Weather Tamer | 4 | Pat Day | Clifford Scott | Avers Wexler | 1 mile & 40 yards | 1:42.60 | $25,000 | [42] | |
1979 | Prince Majestic | 4 | Eddie Delahoussaye | Dewey P. Smith | Dorothy Dorset Brown | 1 mile & 40 yards | 1:40.20 | $25,000 | [43] | |
1978 | †Race not held | |||||||||
1977 | Cylinder | 4 | Ray Sibille | Larry Robideaux Jr. | Greenbrier Stable | 1 mile & 40 yards | 1:39.60 | $25,000 | [44] | |
1976 | Master Derby | 4 | Darrel McHargue | William E. Adams | Golden Chance Farm | 1 mile & 40 yards | 1:38.80 | $25,000 | [2] | |
1975 | Burglar Alarm | 5 | Phil Rubbicco | Louie J. Roussel III | Louie J. Roussel III & Wilson Abraham | 1 mile & 40 yards | 1:39.20 | $17,500 | Division 1[45] | |
Hearts of Lettuce | 5 | Allen LeBlanc | Louie J. Roussel III | Robert Azar | 1:38.80 | $17,500 | Division 2[46] | |||
1974 | Tom Tulle | 4 | Craig Perret | Jere R. Smith | W. Arthur Lofton | 1 mile & 40 yards | 1:38.80 | $20,000 | [47] | |
1973 | Guitar Player | 5 | A. Leroy Moyers Jr. | Jack Van Berg | M. H. Van Berg Stable | 1 mile & 40 yards | 1:41.40 | $20,000 | [1] |
Notes:
† The 1978 renewal of the Whirlaway Handicap was cancelled after several trainers removed their horses from the entry list and there were insufficient runners to hold the event.[48]
† The 2006 renewal of the Mineshaft Handicap was not scheduled due to the shortened Fair Grounds meeting being transferred to Louisiana Downs with continuing after effects of Hurricane Katrina which damaged the racetrack.[49]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Fair Grounds Results – (race 9: held 18 February 1973)". Cincinnati Enquirer. The Associated Press. 19 February 1973. p. 29. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ a b "Master Derby Romps to Win – (race 9: held 7 February 1976)". The Tennessean. The Associated Press. 8 February 1976. p. 61. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "MINESHAFT HANDICAP - MULTIPLE TRACKS". Thoroughbred Database. 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ a b "Stakes profile". www.equibase.com. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
- ^ "Graded Stakes for 2003". www.horse-races.net. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
- ^ "No Denying Grasshopper in Mineshaft". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
- ^ "Pants on Fire, Nehro back on LA Derby Preview undercard". Brisnet. 20 February 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
- ^ "2024 Mineshaft Stakes Grade 3 - (race 11)". Equibase. 17 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
- ^ "2023 Mineshaft Stakes Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 18 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
- ^ "2022 Mineshaft Stakes Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 19 February 2022. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
- ^ "2021 Mineshaft Stakes Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 13 February 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "2020 Mineshaft Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 15 February 2020. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "2019 Mineshaft Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 16 February 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "2018 Mineshaft Handicap Grade 3 - (race 5)". Equibase. 17 February 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "2017 Mineshaft Handicap Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 25 February 2017. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "2016 Mineshaft Handicap Grade 3 - (race 5)". Equibase. 20 February 2016. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "2015 Mineshaft Handicap Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 21 February 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "2014 Mineshaft Handicap Grade 3 - (race 12)". Equibase. 22 February 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "2013 Mineshaft Handicap Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 23 February 2013. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "2012 Mineshaft Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 25 February 2012. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "2011 Mineshaft Handicap Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 19 February 2011. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "2010 Mineshaft Handicap Grade 3 - (race 11)". Equibase. 20 February 2010. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "2009 Mineshaft Handicap Grade 3 - (race 6)". Equibase. 7 February 2009. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "2008 Mineshaft Handicap Grade 3 - (race 6)". Equibase. 9 February 2008. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "2007 Mineshaft Handicap Grade 3 - (race 6)". Equibase. 10 February 2007. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "2005 Mineshaft Handicap Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 12 February 2005. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "2004 Whirlaway Handicap Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 1 February 2004. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "2003 Whirlaway Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 9 February 2003. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "2002 Whirlaway Handicap Listed - (race 9)". Equibase. 10 February 2002. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "2001 Whirlaway Handicap Listed - (race 9)". Equibase. 11 February 2001. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "2000 Whirlaway Handicap Listed - (race 9)". Equibase. 13 February 2000. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "1999 Whirlaway Stakes Listed - (race 9)". Equibase. 14 February 1999. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "1998 Whirlaway Stakes Listed - (race 9)". Equibase. 15 February 1998. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "1997 Whirlaway Stakes Listed - (race 9)". Equibase. 16 February 1997. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "1996 Whirlaway Handicap Listed - (race 9)". Equibase. 17 February 1996. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "1995 Whirlaway Handicap Listed - (race 9)". Equibase. 25 February 1995. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "1994 Whirlaway Handicap Listed - (race 10)". Equibase. 27 February 1994. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "1993 Whirlaway Handicap Black Type - (race 10)". Equibase. 28 February 1993. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "1992 Whirlaway Stakes Black Type - (race 10)". Equibase. 29 February 1992. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "At Fair Grounds – (race 10: held 27 January 1985)". Lexington Herald-Leader. The Associated Press. 28 January 1985. p. 13. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "Fair Grounds Results – (race 8: held 8 February 1981)". Miami Herald. The Associated Press. 9 February 1981. p. 98. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "Weather Tamer stops rain – (race 8: held 9 February 1980)". Shreveport Times. The Associated Press. 10 February 1980. p. 57. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "Plane Sets Down At Fair Grounds; Pictureesque Wins – (race 9: held 10 February 1977)". Miami Herald. The Associated Press. 11 February 1977. p. 60. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "FAIRGROUNDS – (race 9: held 6 February 1977)". The Courier-Journal. The Associated Press. 7 February 1977. p. 57. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "Close Finishes at Orleans – (race 8: held 22 February 1975)". Shreveport Times. The Associated Press. 23 February 1975. p. 50. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "At Fair Grounds – (race 9: held 22 February 1975)". Lexington Leader. The Associated Press. 23 February 1975. p. 24. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "Tom Tulle wins Fair Grounds – (race 9: held 17 February 1974)". Miami News. The Associated Press. 18 February 1974. p. 8. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "Fair Grounds". Shreveport Times. The Associated Press. 12 February 1978. p. 50. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "Churchill, Horsemen Agree on 37-Day Meet in Louisiana". BloodHorse.com. Churchill Downs Inc. 13 September 2005. Retrieved 10 February 2021.