In last year's Louisiana Derby (G2), Catching Freedom placed himself among the best of the 3-year-old division with a come-from-behind one-length score. Nearly one year later, he returns to Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Feb. 15 with a similar goal in mind.
The son of Constitution , who was fourth in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and third in the Preakness Stakes (G1), makes his return to the races off an eight-month layoff in the 1 1/16-mile, $250,000 Mineshaft Stakes (G3).
After finishing fourth in the June 22 Ohio Derby (G3) behind a slow pace that stifled his closing kick, trainer Brad Cox sensed that Catching Freedom needed a break and put him on the shelf to prepare for a strong 4-year-old campaign.
Owned by Albaugh Family Stables, the bay colt joined Cox's Payson Park Training Center division in the fall and has worked steadily since returning to the work tab Nov. 23, gradually increasing from three furlongs to five furlongs in his weekly breezes.
“I love him physically,” Cox said. “He seems to be better physically now than he was last year and he’s moving great. Obviously with his running style he has to get a set up. He showed up (at Fair Grounds) two days ago (Feb. 11) and looked unbelievable galloping yesterday. I think he’s set up for a good run.”
One of the horses he will likely need to run down in the stretch is the Ohio Derby pacesetter and winner: Juddmonte homebred Batten Down. He returns from a three-month break in racing since fading to fourth after setting the pace in the Discovery Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack Nov. 3, his first start against older horses.
Perhaps the most intriguing of the contenders is Steve Asmussen-trained Hall of Fame. He did not perform well in graded company at Fair Grounds in the spring of his 3-year-old season but returned from an eight-month absence to post consecutive impressive scores in allowance company, including a 6 1/2-length triumph at the same course and distance Jan. 5. He races for Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg, Gandharvi, and Brook Smith.
Entries: Mineshaft S. Presented by Relyne GI By Hagyard (G3)
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, Saturday, February 15, 2025, Race 11
- Grade III
- 1 1/16m
- Dirt
- $250,000
- 4 yo's & up
- 5:00 PM (local)
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Wgt | Trainer | M/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1Warrior Johny (KY) | Jaime A. Torres | 122 | Philip A. Bauer | 6/1 |
| 2 | 2Heroic Move (KY) | Harry Hernandez | 122 | Robertino Diodoro | 12/1 |
| 3 | 3Tuscan Sky (KY) | Irad Ortiz, Jr. | 118 | Todd A. Pletcher | 9/2 |
| 4 | 4Hall of Fame (KY) | Jose L. Ortiz | 120 | Steven M. Asmussen | 4/1 |
| 5 | 5Catching Freedom (KY) | Flavien Prat | 118 | Brad H. Cox | 3/1 |
| 6 | 6Maycocks Bay (KY) | Ben Curtis | 118 | Michael Stidham | 10/1 |
| 7 | 7Batten Down (KY) | Tyler Gaffalione | 122 | William I. Mott | 4/1 |
| 8 | 8Komorebino Omoide (JPN) | Jansen Melancon | 122 | Robertino Diodoro | 8/1 |
Gigante Defends Home Turf in Fair Grounds Stakes
One race later, Asmussen will send out Gigante to defend his home turf in the $175,000 Fair Grounds Stakes (G3T) over 1 1/8 miles.
The 5-year-old son of Not This Time has shown an affinity for New Orleans with a record of 3-1-0 from five starts. Two of those wins have come in his last two starts: the Dec. 21 Buddy Diliberto Memorial Stakes on turf and the off-the-turf Colonel E. R. Bradley Stakes Jan. 18.
A millionaire for owners Clark Brewster and L and N Racing, Gigante seeks his first graded victory since the 2023 Secretariat Stakes (G2T) at Colonial Downs.
The only other contender in the 10-horse field with a win over the Fair Grounds turf is Ensemble Racing's 4-year-old gelding Higgins Boat, who won an allowance optional claiming race on the surface in November before picking up a stakes placing in the off-the-turf Woodchopper Stakes Dec. 28.
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, Saturday, February 15, 2025, Race 12Entries: Fair Grounds S. Presented by Horse Racing Nation (G3T)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1What Say Thee (KY) Luis Saez 118 Michael J. Maker 9/2 2 2Gigante (VA) Jose L. Ortiz 122 Steven M. Asmussen 7/2 3 3Unit Economics (GB) Flavien Prat 118 Chad C. Brown 5/1 4 4Idratherbeblessed (KY) Ben Curtis 118 Chris A. Hartman 8/1 5 5Relampago Verde (KY) Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. 118 Kenneth G. McPeek 8/1 6 6Money Supply (KY) Jareth Loveberry 118 Joe Sharp 20/1 7 7Dean Martini (KY) Tyler Gaffalione 118 Peter Eurton 15/1 8 8Taking Candy (KY) Irad Ortiz, Jr. 118 Cherie DeVaux 4/1 9 9Higgins Boat (KY) Declan Cannon 118 Thomas M. Amoss 8/1 10 10Warrior Johny (KY) Jaime A. Torres 118 Philip A. Bauer 12/1
