Strong field of eight in Mineshaft Handicap

NEW ORLEANS – There are no Arrogates or Gun Runners in the Grade 3, $125,000 Mineshaft Handicap, just eight very nice horses, including several 4-year-olds who still could be on an upward trajectory.

The Mineshaft, carded at 1 1/16 miles on dirt and as race 8 on Saturday, with a scheduled post time of 3:39 p.m. Central, is a handicap in name only. Eagle, Dalmore, Dazzling Gem, Honorable Duty, and International Star are highweighted at a mere 118 pounds. Rise Up, who seems certain to set the pace from the rail, carries 116, as does Mo Tom. The stakes-debuting December Seven is in at 114 and has a real chance.

KEY CONTENDERS

Eagle, by Candy Ride
Last 3 Beyers: 96-100-99

◗ Won only once but had a strong 2016 campaign during which he finished a tough-luck second in this race. Eagle appears to be a later-maturing colt who his connections hope might peak this year at age 5.

◗ He makes his first start since July but has put together a strong work pattern, including two six-furlong drills, for this comeback.

“He’s been on a real nice pattern. He’s doing well, looks well,” trainer Neil Howard said. “It’s the usual thing though: This is kind of a tall order coming back off a layoff.”

December Seven, by Street Sense
Last 3 Beyers: 94-93-83

◗ Late-starting colt has won three of his two-turn races by open lengths and ran well to finish third in his other route try after enduring a terrible trip.

◗ December Seven has a good cruising speed and has shown strong acceleration. He was on the lead when outclassing allowance foes in an easy win here earlier this meet but is tactically versatile. “That’s another good thing about him,” trainer Paul McGee said. “He has speed, but he’s not a speedy-type horse.”

Dazzling Gem, by Misremembered
Last 3 Beyers: 97-87-91

◗ Looked like a winner at the eighth pole in the Louisiana Stakes last month but was run down by Hawaakom, who returned to finish second to Gun Runner while earning a career-best 103 Beyer Speed Figure on Monday in the Razorback at Oaklawn.

“I think we’re in a great spot with him,” trainer Brad Cox said. “Robby [Albarado] said he thinks he can get him to move forward a little. He’s a very odd horse to ride; sometimes he’ll take himself out of the race. He had a little bit of a wide trip last time. If he runs that figure back, he’ll be really tough.”

Mo Tom, by Uncle Mo
Last 3 Beyers: 76-93-99

◗ Suffered well-publicized bad trips in the Risen Star and Louisiana Derby here last year before breaking through in the Ohio Derby. He was far off his best form when last seen Sept. 10 in the Super Derby and is capable of a much better race.

“He’s a bigger, stronger horse than he was last year, but it’s his first start in a long time, and he in the past has been a horse that has taken a while to get going,” trainer Tom Amoss said. “My hope and expectation is you’ll see the horse we saw last year at Fair Grounds. If he’s a horse that needs a race, so be it.”

International Star, by Fusaichi Pegasus
Last 3 Beyers: 89-96-95

◗ Has four wins from six Fair Grounds starts but hasn’t run since June after getting very sick last summer. Trainer Mike Maker said International Star, who shipped from Florida, “is doing exceptional. He was ready to run over a month ago, but a couple allowance races didn’t fill. The next logical step was just to come here. I don’t think he’ll need a race.”

Honorable Duty, by Distorted Humor
Last 3 Beyers: 97-85-86

◗ Won the Tenacious here in December but missed the Louisiana Stakes last month with a minor injury. “I think we’ve only just scratched the surface with the horse, really,” trainer Brendan Walsh said.