Miles Ahead Aims to Snap 2023 Winless Streak

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 (CHI), and Kavod.