Mineshaft (horse)

Mineshaft (foaled May 17, 1999, in Kentucky) was a multi-millionaire American thoroughbred racehorse and successful stallion. He was sired by 1992 U.S. Horse of the Year and U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee A.P. Indy, who in turn was a son of 1977 U.S. Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew. His dam, Prospectors Delite, is by the leading North American sire Mr. Prospector. Bred and owned by the partnership of William S. Farish III, W. Temple Webber, Jr. and James Elkins, Mineshaft is a product of Lane's End Farm. He finished racing with a record of 10-3-1 in 18 starts and career earnings of $2,283,402.^[1]

Early career

Trained by Classic-winning trainer John Gosden, Mineshaft began his career racing on turf in Great Britain. Unraced at two, Mineshaft won a mile maiden at Newmarket on his second start as a three-year-old. He failed to win another race in Great Britain, but showed definite ability when placing third in the Group Three Prix Daphnis in France. His record in Britain was 3-1-1 in seven starts, with annual earnings of $73,716.

American career

Following his seven runs in Great Britain, Mineshaft was transferred to the United States as a three-year-old and moved to the barn of Neil J. Howard. He started out in America with a win in an allowance race by 3¹⁄₂ lengths at a mile and 70 yards at Fair Grounds Race Course in 1:38.97. He finished 2002 with another allowance score at a mile at Churchill Downs in 1:36.2.

With his late success, Mineshaft remained in the U.S. at age four and really came into his own. He started the year off at Fair Grounds Race Course in the winter and reeled off victories in the $75,000 Diplomat Way Handicap at eight and a half furlongs in 1:43.8. Mineshaft followed that up with a runner-up finish in the $125,000 Grade III Whirlaway Handicap, losing to Balto Star. He then won big in the $500,000 Grade II New Orleans Handicap at nine furlongs in 1:48.9, by 3¹⁄₂ lengths. He then shipped to Kentucky and crushed other stakes winners by nine lengths in the $100,000 Grade III Ben Ali Stakes at Keeneland in 1:48.52.^[2]

Then Mineshaft stepped up in class and ran in the $600,000 Grade I Pimlico Special Handicap at "Old Hilltop" in Baltimore, Maryland. A field of nine faced 6-5 favorite Mineshaft and Triple Crown veteran Balto Star, who was sent off at 4-1. When the gate opened, Balto Star was sent to the front and led the field through the first half mile, setting fractions of 23.1 and 46.7 over the sloppy track. The 7-2 second choice Western Pride stalked him in second and inherited the lead when Balto Star dropped out of contention, going 3/4 miles in 1:11. Turning for home, Mineshaft, who had stalked the pace saving ground early, was eased out three wide on the far turn and charged down the stretch, passing Western Pride after a mile in 1:36 to win going away by 3³⁄₄ lengths in a final time of 1:56.16. It was a head back to 42–1 longshot Judge's Case in third.

Among his victories later that year, Mineshaft won three straight Grade I races at Belmont Park in New York. He started by winning the $500,000 Grade I Suburban Handicap by 2¹⁄₄ lengths, beating Volponi, Dollar Bill, and Evening Attire. His next victory came in the $500,000 Woodward Stakes by 4¹⁄₂ lengths over Hold That Tiger and Puzzlement. Then, to cap off his year, he won the $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup, again beating Evening Attire, this time by 4¹⁄₂ lengths and ensuring his United States Horse of the Year honors. He finished the year with a record of 7-2-0 in nine starts and earnings of $2,209,686.^[3]

Retirement

Retired on October 3, 2003, due to an injury in his right front ankle, Mineshaft stands at stud at Lane's End Farm for a fee of $30,000 live foal as of 2013. He is the sire of Grade I winners Fly Down, It's Tricky, Discreetly Mine, and Dialed In, and Grade II winners Cool Coal Man, Casino Drive, and Nates Mineshaft.

References

• Pedigree & Partial Stats
• TB Times Stallion Directory Mineshaft