The Player adding blinkers for Mineshaft

NEW ORLEANS – The Player races in blinkers for the first time Saturday in the Mineshaft Handicap.

Winner of the Grade 2 Fayette last fall at Keeneland, The Player finished fourth at odds of 4-5 here last month in the Louisiana Stakes, and the nature of his performance spurred trainer Buff Bradley to experiment with blinkers. In the Louisiana, The Player got a perfect pressing trip but was swamped by a three-wide move from Cedartown at the top of the stretch. The Player, however, came back on in the race’s final 50 yards or so, and rapidly made the front galloping out just past the wire.

“It’s almost like he’s playing out there,” Bradley said. “We feel like we’re not getting everything out of him. We’ve breezed him in blinkers the last few times, and his last couple works have been sensational without us pressuring him to do anything.”

◗ Risen Star entrant High North is likely to be cross-entered Friday in the Southwest Stakes on Feb. 19 at Oaklawn, but trainer Brad Cox said Tuesday that it was more likely High North would remain in the Risen Star. High North finished fourth in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs on Nov. 26 in his most recent start. Two other Risen Star entrants who had been considered for the Southwest, Supreme Aura and Ebben, also now are likely to race at Fair Grounds.