Mineshaft Is Latest to Retire

Mineshaft’s racing career came to a quiet end at Churchill Downs on Friday, leaving the Breeders’ Cup with a $4-million race that will be run with the likely horse of the year on the sidelines.

Mineshaft, who won seven of nine starts this year, including his fourth Grade I stake in last Saturday’s Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park, would have been a heavy favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, to be run three weeks from today at Santa Anita.

But the 4-year-old colt has bone chips in two of his ankles, trainer Neil Howard said, and a knee that could be a problem, so Will Farish, the U.S. ambassador to Great Britain and one of Mineshaft’s owners, made the decision to retire him. At a stud fee of $100,000 per mating, Mineshaft will stand next year at Farish’s Lane’s End Farm near Midway, Ky.

There were indications after the Gold Cup that Mineshaft might be retired, but Breeders’ Cup officials, who have already lost at least three other standouts for the Classic, were hoping that Farish’s horse might make the trip to California. With Candy Ride, the best older horse on the West Coast, and the stars of the Triple Crown, Funny Cide and Empire Maker, not running, the favorite for the Classic will either be Ten Most Wanted, a late-developing 3-year-old, or Medaglia d’Oro, who finished second in the race last year.

Bobby Frankel, who lost Empire Maker to retirement Tuesday, also trains Medaglia d’Oro. Frankel said that Mineshaft is the favorite for horse of the year, but added that three other horses -- Medaglia d’Oro, Perfect Drift and Azeri -- might outvote him if they win the Classic.

Perfect Drift’s trainer, Murray Johnson, had been adamant about skipping the Breeders’ Cup -- his horse is a gelding and cannot breed -- but this week, with other horses dropping out, he indicated that his owner, Dr. William Reed, might reconsider running in the Classic. Perfect Drift is one of only two horses to beat Mineshaft this year.

Azeri, last year’s horse of the year after winning the Distaff, had her 11-race winning streak ended by Got Koko at Santa Anita last Sunday and came out of the race with an infection. Her status for the Breeders’ Cup hasn’t been determined, but if she runs it is likely to again be in the Distaff.

“Mineshaft is a great horse, and he ran some great races,” Frankel said. “The [speed] numbers he ran say that he’s a great horse. But in his last few races, he didn’t beat much. There weren’t any of the top horses behind him. Medaglia d’Oro’s only lost one race, and if he won the Classic, he’d deserve a shot [at the title].”

Frankel said that he might also run Peace Rules, the Blue Grass and Haskell winner, in the Classic. Frankel is likely to pre-enter Peace Rules in both the Classic and the Breeders’ Cup Mile, on grass, and then decide by entry time Oct. 22 about which race to run.

“Mineshaft was a great horse,” said Wally Dollase, who has been training Ten Most Wanted at Hollywood Park. “He would have been tough to beat if he had run in the Classic. As for horse of the year, I haven’t given it much thought. I’m just concentrating on getting my horse ready, and I like the idea that he’ll have five weeks between races. I guess if Ten Most Wanted won the Classic, voters would have to consider him.”

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Prepping for the Breeders’ Cup, Najran beat Ethan Man by 1 1/2 lengths in the $250,000 Phoenix Cup at Keeneland, and favored Be Gentle, paying $5, beat Galloping Gal by 5 1/2 lengths in the $400,000 Darley Alcibiades. Beau’s Town, the 11-10 favorite in the Phoenix, stumbled leaving the gate, was unable to get the lead as he usually does and finished last. Najran paid $14. Be Gentle, headed for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, is trained by Wayne Lukas.

Bowman’s Band, a 12-1 shot, won the $400,000 Meadowlands Cup in New Jersey. Dynever was second and Unforgettable Max, finishing third, was disqualified to fourth after interfering with Volponi at the start. Volponi was elevated from fourth to third. For Volponi, it was the seventh straight loss since winning last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Domedriver, winner of last year’s Breeders’ Cup Mile, has been retired after winning only two of five starts this year.... Private Horde will be supplemented for $90,000 to run in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

The Breeders’ Cup, which wants to protect its advertisers and sponsors, has filed a suit in Los Angeles County Superior Court to prevent jockeys from wearing advertising on Breeders’ Cup day. Defendant in the suit is the California-based Jockeys Management Group. Jockey advertising is legal in California, but last summer the California Horse Racing Board, after a request from the Breeders’ Cup, voted to prohibit advertising on Breeders’ Cup day.

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Breeders’ Cup Preps

Weekend races leading to the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita on Oct. 25. (Name of race, followed by site of race, top contender(s) and Breeders’ Cup event being prepped for):

TODAY

Goodwood, Santa Anita, Pleasantly Perfect / Toccet (Classic)

Champagne, Belmont, Chapel Royal (Juvenile)

Frizette, Belmont, Ashado and Victory U.S.A. (Juvenile Fillies)

Beldame, Belmont, Sightseek (Distaff)

Indiana Derby, Hoosier, Grand Hombre and Wando (Classic)

Kelso, Belmont, Decarchy (Mile)

Lane’s End Futurity, Keeneland, Value Plus (Juvenile)

Shadwell Turf Mile, Keeneland, Touch Of The Blues (Mile)

SUNDAY

Ancient Title, Santa Anita, Captain Squire and Zavata (Sprint)

Grey Cup, Woodbine, Bachelor Blues (Juvenile)

Norfolk, Santa Anita, Siphonizer (Juvenile)

Oak Tree Mile, Santa Anita, Special Ring (Mile)

Overbrook Spinster, Keeneland, Take Charge Lady (Distaff)

Prix de l’Arc, Longchamp, High Chaparral (Classic)

WinStar Galaxy, Keeneland, Wonder Again (Filly & Mare Turf)

-- Associated Press