Red Rifle Takes Aim at $125,000 Mineshaft Handicap

Red Rifle has been tabbed as the morning line favorite at odds of 3-1 for trainer Todd Pletcher. A five-year-old gelded son of Giant’s Causeway, he has won five of his thirteen starts and has been successful on turf, conventional dirt and synthetics. He has been on the shelf since winning the Hawthorne Gold Cup (G2) in November and has been training steadily for his return. Rafael Bejarano will be aboard and they will break from post position six.

Hard Aces getting a class test after local stakes win

Second choice at 9-2 on the morning line is Hard Aces, a locally-based son of Hard Spun trained by Larry Jones. Bred and owned by Dreamchaser Thorobreds, the five-year-old has won five of his nineteen starts and is stepping up to graded stakes company after winning the Louisiana Handicap last time out. He has been training steadily since that winning effort and will break from the rail under jockey Jose Riquelme.

Majestic Harbor trying to return to competitive form

Also in the field at morning line odds of 8-1 is Majestic Harbor who will be making his first start for trainer Paul McGee. A seven-year-old son of Rockport Harbor, he is a six-time career winner and has won multiple graded stakes including the Gold Cup (G1) at Santa Anita. He has not hit the board from five starts since that winning effort. Mike Smith will be back aboard from post position three.