Happy American falls into deep end in Mineshaft

NEW ORLEANS – Neil Pessin, veteran trainer of many a Fair Grounds campaign, hatched a nice little plan.

Happy American, a progressive colt he trains for Lothenbach Stables, came flying up the inside and lost by a narrow margin to Fair Grounds-loving Chess Chief on Dec. 26 in the Tenacious Stakes. When it became clear that Mandaloun and Midnight Bourbon, among the best 4-year-olds of 2022, both would contest the Louisiana Stakes here Jan. 22, Pessin opted to pass that race and await the Grade 3, $250,000 Mineshaft Stakes on Feb. 19. With Mandaloun and Midnight Bourbon off to Saudi Arabia for the $20 million Saudi Cup on Feb. 26, the Mineshaft figured to come up light.

That did not happen.

Miles D, third in the 2021 Travers and winner of the Discovery at Aqueduct over the good colt Speaker’s Corner on Dec. 27, makes his 4-year-old debut in the 1 1/16-mile Mineshaft. He ships from Florida for trainer Chad Brown, while Bill Mott, also Florida-based, sends the talented Olympiad. Todd Pletcher picked the Mineshaft for Untreated’s return to stakes competition, and Midcourt comes from California.

“We’re not afraid. But what is it they say? You have to have a certain level of intelligence to experience fear,” Pessin deadpanned.

Happy American, by Runhappy, typically would neatly fit the Mineshaft, a stepping-stone to the New Orleans Classic in March. He does want more distance than he gets Saturday but won two in a row before his near-miss in the Tenacious, though the Florida horses might simply have more talent.

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Miles D, by Curlin, raced once at 2, finishing a close fourth in a hugely productive Belmont maiden race, and didn’t really come to hand until the latter part of summer 2021. He was no match for Essential Quality and Midnight Bourbon in the Travers while defeating four rivals of sub-Grade 1 quality, but his form leapt forward in the Discovery, albeit at a nine-furlong trip Speaker’s Corner didn’t quite stay.

“I figured this race would come up with six, seven horses, not that tough,” said trainer Chad Brown, who had the same ideas as Pessin. “It’s a tougher spot than I expected. But the horse looks like he’s matured a bunch. At the end of the year we saw his best race at Aqueduct, and there were signs he was really starting to come around.”

Miles D has worked forwardly at Payson Park for his comeback and could be favored under Jose Ortiz, who never has ridden the colt.

Olympiad has three wins from six starts, and while he was fourth, beaten 4 1/2 lengths in the Cigar Mile, his lone stakes try, that performance might underrate him. Olympiad appeared to be dropping sharply out of contention past the three-furlong marker in the Cigar, only to get back in the bridle past the three-sixteenths pole and come with a surprise late move.

“The jockey kind of quit riding him, thought he was done,” said trainer Bill Mott. “We think he could have been right there. He galloped out in front of them.”

Olympiad returned Jan. 16 and aired in a Gulfstream Park allowance race, parlaying a perfect pressing trip into a 7 1/2-length victory and a 101 Beyer. He still hasn’t proven he’s a true route horse and not a miler, but, as Mott said, “We’re going to find out.”

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Distance preference also looms a question for O Besos, fifth in the 2021 Kentucky Derby and a narrow allowance winner here Jan. 2 in a 1 1/16-mile contest. Connections considered cutting O Besos back in distance but will give him another shot in a route race Saturday. “This is the one that will determine where we go,” said Travis Foley, assistant to his father, Greg Foley.

Midcourt, a solid Grade 2 type on his best day, basically was eased in his most recent start, the Oct. 2 Awesome Again, a Grade 1 race in which Lasix, the anti-bleeder medication wasn’t permitted. Midcourt races on Lasix again Saturday.

Silver Prospector was scratched from an outside stakes draw last weekend at Oaklawn in favor of this spot, while Untreated, who looked sharp capturing a pair of late-2021 Aqueduct allowance races, gets a stakes shot for trainer Todd Pletcher.

“He’s always trained like a quality horse,” said Pletcher. “He won his last two at a one-turn mile on talent and class, but he’s going to appreciate two turns and ultimately might want even more distance than this.

Just Might should

The period of Jan. 22-29 was not a great week for Fair Grounds-based trainer Michelle Lovell.

The Lovell-trained Change of Control passed Elle Z on her way to victory in the Jan. 29 Fred Aime Memorial – except Elle Z came back on her and won by a nose.

A week earlier, her Just Might had comfortably captured the Duncan F. Kenner Stakes, only to be disqualified on a somewhat controversial but, in the end, likely correct stewards’ decision.

Wednesday, Lovell watched Just Might jog on the road in front of her Fair Grounds barn, putting her hand on his withers after he came to a halt and noting now the 6-year-old gelding had matured and grown.

“You didn’t use to be this tall,” Michell said to her charge.

Nor did Just Might used to be this good. Close to equal ability sprinting on turf and dirt, Just Might led North America with seven stakes wins during 2021. He raced 11 times during the season but appeared to thrive on the activity and ought to be favored to beat seven rivals in the $100,000 Colonel Power Stakes, a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint. Just Might breaks from post 2 and looks like he has the speed to lead from start to finish under Colby Hernandez. And if he wins well, Lovell, who co-bred and co-owns the gelding, will have to decide whether to point for a domestic campaign or aim for the $1.5 million Al Quoz Sprint on March 26 in Dubai.

Cowan was placed first via Just Might’s disqualification last month. The only horse who might have a chance to topple an in-form Just Might is English import Toro Strike. Five-year-old Toro Strike won the Group 3 Supreme Stakes over seven furlongs at Goodwood in his England finale, and trainer Todd Pletcher acknowledges 5 1/2 furlongs probably is too short for Toro Strike.

“It’s kind of hard to find grass races at 6 1/2 or 7 furlongs this time of year,” he said.

Instead, Toro Strike has found the mighty Just Might.

◗ Amiche and Pass the Plate could be the principals in the $100,000 Albert M. Stall Memorial for older fillies and mares over about 1 1/16 miles on turf.