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Miles Ahead Aims to Snap 2023 Winless Streak

The Thanksgiving Classic Stakes features a field of nine.

Miles Ahead (blue blinkers) came out the winner of a three-way photo in the 2022 Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes at Churchill Downs

Miles Ahead (blue blinkers) came out the winner of a three-way photo in the 2022 Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes at Churchill Downs

Coady Photography

Miles Ahead, who hasn't won a race in 2023 despite finishing second or third in all of his starts, tries to get the "W" Nov. 23 in the Thanksgiving Classic Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots

The Competitive Edge  gelding is the most experienced runner in the field of nine with 31 starts, but hasn't seen the winner's circle since the 2022 Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes, a span of six starts.

Paul McGee's trainee is 12-7-3 lifetime with $812,313 in earnings. This year, he is 0-3-2 from five starts with $165,810 in the bank. Miles Ahead's eight wins at six furlongs more than double those of his closest competitors—Swift as I Am and Kavod (both of whom are winless this year)—who each have three wins at the distance. 

What the Trainer Thinks

McGee: "I thought he ran really good in the Bet On Sunshine. He was fresh off a little bit of a layoff, and he came out of it doing really well, so I figured we could wheel him back three weeks later in this race. I feel like he's on top of his game. That horse always runs—he's a hard-trying horse." 

NOTABLE

  • Swift as I Am is making just his second start in a year. He made his 2023 debut Sept. 22 in a starter allowance at Los Alamitos Race Course, finishing fourth.
  • Four of the entries have run in graded company this year: Miles Ahead, Cowan, Super Ocho, and Kavod.

Entries: Thanksgiving Classic S.

Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, Thursday, November 23, 2023, Race 9

  • STK
  • 6f
  • Dirt
  • $200,000
  • 3 yo's & up
  • 4:06 PM (local)
PPHorseJockeyWgtTrainerM/L
11Chasing Time (KY)Keeneland Sales GraduateJaime A. Torres118Steven M. Asmussen9/2
22Machine Gun Man (KY)C.J. McMahon116Juan C. Sanchez10/1
33Swift as I Am (CA)Jareth Loveberry118Tanner Tracy20/1
44Cowan (KY)Keeneland Sales GraduateDeshawn L. Parker118Raymond E. Ginter, Jr.8/1
55Minnesota Ready (KY)Corey J. Lanerie118Neil L. Pessin6/1
66Kavod (KY)Keeneland Sales GraduateMitchell Murrill118Chris A. Hartman8/1
77Super Ocho (CHI)Vicente Del-Cid118Amador Merei Sanchez5/1
88Gilcrease (KY)Marcelino Pedroza, Jr.116Albert M. Stall, Jr.8/1
99Miles Ahead (KY)Keeneland Sales GraduateJoseph Talamo118Paul J. McGee2/1