Catching Freedom finished far in front of Hall of Fame when the two met in the Risen Star and Louisiana Derby last year, but Saturday’s Mineshaft Stakes at Fair Grounds might mark a changing of the guard. Batten Down and Catching Freedom, both of whom accomplished more than Hall of Fame at age 3, ship from Florida off layoffs for the Grade 3, $250,000 Mineshaft. Meanwhile, Hall of Fame has called Fair Grounds home since early December. He’s made two starts since returning from his own layoff, and he finally validated the flashy maiden victory that landed him in the Risen Star and Louisiana Derby in winning a Jan. 5 second-level route allowance. “I think it’s time for him to prove who we think he is,” said Steve Asmussen, who trains Hall of Fame, a $1.4 million yearling purchase. “He has matured into a very nice 4-year-old.” Hall of Fame, by Gun Runner, scored a second-start maiden route win 13 months ago at Fair Grounds by more than 10 lengths, earning a strong Beyer Speed Figure of 94. Hall of Fame might have been fast enough to get onto the Triple Crown trail, but a seventh in the Risen Star and a 10th in the Louisiana Derby showed he wasn’t ready for it. :: Access the most trusted data and information in horse racing! DRF Past Performances and Picks are available now. Hall of Fame didn’t start after the Louisiana Derby until Dec. 1, when he pressed the pace and notched a solid score in a Churchill Downs first-level allowance over a one-turn mile. His breakout came in the Jan. 5 race, when Hall of Fame set a strong pace and cruised to a 6 1/2-length win, earning a 103 Beyer. “I like the timing here off a fast race,” said Asmussen. “He’s great, big horse who is surprisingly quick.” Stretch-running Catching Freedom is neither big nor quick, but he won the Louisiana Derby before finishing fourth in the Kentucky Derby and third in the Preakness. He starts for the first time since running below form on June 22 in the Ohio Derby and remains a lackluster work horse. “He just doesn’t work well, so I put no stock in that,” trainer Brad Cox said. “He’s traveling awesome and he’s ready. He’s just a horse who needs a setup.” Catching Freedom might get one, with 4-year-olds Tuscan Sky and Batten Down, as well as 5-year-old Komorebino Omoide, capable of contesting the pace with Hall of Fame. Tuscan Sky has been on a good-race, bad-race pattern for six of his seven starts. The Dec. 21 Harlan’s Holiday, where he was seventh, was not a good one. “We just need him to become more consistent,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “He can be a little reluctant to run into kickback at times.” Batten Down broke out winning the Ohio Derby but caved late after contesting a strong pace in his most recent outing, the Nov. 3 Discovery, where Tuscan Sky beat him by almost five lengths. Batten Down will be a pace factor Saturday under Tyler Gaffalione, but Hall of Fame might be the right horse for the Mineshaft. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.