New Orleans Classic may provide a Mineshaft rematch
Pioneer of Medina probably will return to Fair Grounds for the New Orleans Classic on March 26 after a gritty victory last weekend in the Mineshaft Stakes, trainer Todd Pletcher said.
Fresh off a career-best 103 Beyer Speed Figure finishing third in the Harlan’s Holiday at Gulfstream, Pioneer of Medina got a 99 Beyer winning the Mineshaft by a head over Mr. Wireless. And if Pioneer of Medina does return, he’s likely to face the same rival in the New Orleans Classic, with Mr. Wireless an intended runner in that race.
Mr. Wireless has put together a good if frustrating Fair Grounds meet, finishing second in the Tenacious, the Louisiana, and then the Mineshaft. Last weekend, he covered far more ground than Pioneer of Medina while losing by a narrow margin.
“Obviously he got a wide trip, and that probably was the difference, but I think sometimes that’s the way the horse needs to run. It’s a trade-off,” said trainer Bret Calhoun.
A half-length behind the top two in the Mineshaft was the Calhoun-trained Run Classic, who ran his best race this winter, running on a quick pace but failing to quite stay the 1 1/16 miles. While Run Classic is under consideration for the Oaklawn Mile, a true cutback to a longer one-turn race, the seven-furlong Commonwealth at Keeneland, is the more likely path, Calhoun said.
Run Classic got a career-best 105 Beyer winning over a similar trip last fall at Keeneland.
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