Pioneer of Medina holds on to win the G3 Mineshaft by a head (Hodges Photography)
Fair Grounds Press Release
NEW ORLEANS— Fans were treated to a thrilling 38th edition of the $250,000 Mineshaft Stakes presented by Relyne GI by Hagyard (G3) when Sumaya U.S. Stables’ Pioneer of Medina gamely held off a fast-charging Mr. Wireless for a head victory.
Trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Luis Saez, Pioneer of Medina completed 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.59 on the “fast” Fair Grounds main track.
The thrilling stretch battle began around the far turn when Run Classic poked his head in front of the rail-skimming Hoist the Gold, who tallied early quarter-mile fractions of :23.79 and :47.59. Saez began to ask Pioneer of Medina for his best run at the quarter-pole as he sat third behind the pacesetters. Jockey Deshawn Parker and Mr. Wireless sat sixth in the early stages of the race and made a prolonged rally down the center of the course. At the 3/16 pole, Pioneer of Medina poked his nose in front of Run Classic while Mr. Wireless began to draw to his outside. The trio battled to the wire where ultimately Pioneer of Medina was able to get the best of his hard-trying rivals.
Pioneer of Medina rewarded his backers with payouts of $7.60, $4.40 and $3.60. Mr. Wireless returned $6 and $4 while Run Classic paid $5.80.
Early pacesetter Hoist the Gold finished fourth followed in order by Tawny Port, King Fury, Big Blue Line, Happy American and Farmington Road.
Pioneer of Medina banked $150,000 for his victory in the Mineshaft. He improved his overall mark to 12-4-2-2 with earnings of $446,370.
Pioneer of Medina is a 4-year-old son of Pioneerof the Nile out of the Eskendereya mare Lights of Medina. He was bred in Kentucky by International Equities Holdings Inc.
Mineshaft Quotes:
Luis Saez, jockey, Pioneer of Medina, (winner): “This horse always tires hard and gives 100% effort every time. Today, he broke very well. Our plan was to follow the leaders and make one move around them. He’s become more mature this year and overall has just been better.”
Deshawn Parker, jockey, Mr. Wireless (winner): “(Pioneer of Medina) really dug in on his inside. My horse ran great but that horse really tried hard on our inside and just got the best of us.”
