Hall Of Fame with jockey Jose Ortiz aboard wins the 40th running of the Grade III $250,000 Mineshaft. (Hodges Photography / Lou Hodges, Jr.)
Edges Longshot Komorebino Omoide
Fair Grounds Release
NEW ORLEANS, La.– Highly-regarded 4-year-old colt Hall of Fame surged late to get his head in front of 14-1 longshot Komorebino Omoide at the wire to win Saturday’s 40th running of the $250,000 Mineshaft Stakes presented by Relyne GI by Hagyard (G3) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
Owned by Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg, Gandharvi and Brook Smith, Hall of Fame was ridden by Jose Ortiz for trainer Steve Asmussen. The son of Gun Runner covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.89 to secure the fourth victory of his career.
After an even beginning, Ortiz positioned Hall of Fame in third, tracking Maycocks Bay, who led Komorebino Omoide through an opening quarter in :24.46. After a half-mile in :48.60, Komorebino Omoide began to find his best stride and drew even with the leader at the quarter pole. As they reached mid-stretch, Ortiz angled Hall of Fame three-wide while Komorebino Omoide began to draw clear of Maycocks Bay. Inside the final sixteenth, Hall of Fame began to find his best stride but Komorebino Omoide fought back along the rail. At the wire, Hall of Fame prevailed by a head.
Following the race, jockey Jansen Melancon lodged an objection against Ortiz for interference in the stretch, but stewards disallowed the claim.
“He broke great and put me in a great position down the backside,” Ortiz said. “Steve (Asmussen) and his team did a really good job with him, and it showed with him having to battle down the lane after a slow pace early.”
Maycocks Bay held third, finishing 1 ¾ lengths ahead of Batten Down. Heroic Move, Tuscan Sky, Catching Freedom and Warrior Johny completed the order of finish.
Hall of Fame, the 8-5 favorite, returned $5.40, $4.20, and $3. Komorebino Omoide paid $9.40 and $5, while Maycocks Bay, under Ben Curtis, returned $7 to show.
With the victory, Hall of Fame improved his career record to 7-4-1-0, boosting his earnings to $322,960.
A Kentucky-bred son of Gun Runner out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Flag Day, Hall of Fame was bred by Earle I. Mack.
Mineshaft Quotes
Jose Ortiz (jockey, Hall of Fame, winner): “He broke great and put me in a great position down the backside. Steve (Asmussen) and his team did a really good job with him, and it really showed with him having to battle down the lane after a slow pace early.”
Steve Asmussen (trainer, Hall of Fame, winner): “He’s really putting it together. He’s an exciting horse from a tremendous family. It was very impressive today how he showed a new dimension by sitting behind a slow opening half-mile and coming home in a fast time. … I’m very thankful we were able to give him the time to fill in and grow into himself. I think the sky is the limit.”
Jansen Melancon (jockey, Komorebino Omoide, second): “The distance isn’t a problem for my horse. I think the bumping slowed him down. He was coming back.”
Ben Curtis (jockey, Maycocks Bay, third): “He ran a cracker of a race. He relaxed a lot better today. He made the lead very easily. The fractions were in our favor. He’s still fairly unexposed and still learning how to do things. I’m very happy with him.”
Flavien Prat (jockey, Catching Freedom, seventh): “I tried to get him into a good position early, but they went slow, and he got keen on me. He didn’t fire his best race today.”
