Last year, Pioneer of Medina used the Fair Grounds route to qualify for the Kentucky Derby, but in the end proved not to be a ready-for-prime-time-player in the 3-year-old division. Saturday, Pioneer of Medina returned to Fair Grounds and made a successful 4-year-old debut that his connections hope leads to a better campaign in 2023. Pioneer of Medina, under Luis Saez, prevailed by a head in a riveting stretch duel with the 5-year-old Mr. Wireless to win the Grade 3, $250,000 Mineshaft. Mr. Wireless was second by a half-length over Run Classic. Hoist the Gold faded to fourth after setting the pace and was followed in the order of finish by Tawny Port, King Fury, Big Blue Line, Happy American, and Farmington Road. The victory was the fourth from 12 starts but first in a stakes for Pioneer of Medina, a son of Pioneerof the Nile owned by Sumaya U.S. Stables and trained by Todd Pletcher. Last year, Pioneer of Medina won an allowance race at Fair Grounds then was fourth in the Risen Star and third in the Louisiana Derby – both times behind Epicenter – to qualify for the Kentucky Derby where he finished 19th of 20. :: Take your handicapping to the next level and play with FREE DRF Past Performances - Formulator or Classic.  Following a summer break, Pioneer of Medina raced four times in the fall, winning a second-level allowance at Churchill before running second behind Skippylongstocking in the Grade 3 Harlan’s Holiday on Dec. 30 at Gulfstream. In hindsight, Pletcher said it may have ultimately proven to be a mistake to remove blinkers from Pioneer of Medina’s equipment, which is what he did for the Kentucky Derby, hoping to alter the colt’s pace-prompting running style. Pioneer of Medina has worn blinkers in three of his last four starts, winning twice and running second once. “It seemed like putting them back on has been the key,” Pletcher said. In the Mineshaft, Pioneer of Medina was a tracking third while Hoist the Gold set the pace, prompted by Run Classic, who moved to the lead after six furlongs run 1:11.86. Turning for home, Pioneer of Medina was gaining on a stubborn Run Classic, and then seemed emboldened when Mr. Wireless came to his outside. Those two were running in tandem, edging past Run Classic in deep stretch with Pioneer of Medina narrowly besting Mr. Wireless at the wire. Pioneer of Medina covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.59 and returned $7.60 as the favorite. The race resulted in a 99 Beyer Speed Figure for Pioneer of Medina. “I thought it was a gutsy effort,” Pletcher said. “He battled hard in the lane, similar to what he did in the Harlan’s Holiday. He seems to like the Fair Grounds, that’s why we went back and it seemed to work out well.” While Pletcher said Pioneer of Medina would return to his base at Palm Beach Downs in Florida, he noted that the Grade 2, $500,000 New Orleans Classic on March 25 at Fair Grounds would be high on his list for a likely next start. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.