Shotgun Kowboy eyes Mineshaft Handicap

Shotgun Kowboy, the winner of the Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby and seventh last out in the Grade 1 Clark Handicap at Churchill last fall, could make his 4-year-old debut Feb. 20 in the Grade 3, $125,000 Mineshaft Handicap.

C.R. Trout bred and owns Shotgun Kowboy and trained him through the Clark Handicap, but Shotgun Kowboy now is being handled by Bret Calhoun, who has him stabled with his string at the Evangeline Training Center, where Shotgun Kowboy on Saturday worked five furlongs in 1:03.60.

“C.R. sent him to me about two months ago,” Calhoun said. “He’s kind of targeting some Oaklawn races, but he’s very possible for the Mineshaft.”

International Star and Eagle, the one-two finishers in the Louisiana Stakes last month, are expected to be the principals in the Mineshaft.