$1.4M yearling Hall of Fame wins 3rd straight, 1st stakes

Fair Grounds stakes recap by publicist Kevin Kilroy (Hodges Photography/Lou Hodges Jr. photo of Hall of Fame edging Komorebino Ovoid in the G3 Mineshaft Stakes)

New Orleans, La (Feb. 15, 2025) – Highly-regarded 4-year-old colt Hall of Fame surged late to get his head in front of 14-1 longshot Komorebino Omoide at the wire to win Saturday’s 40th running of the $250,000 Mineshaft Stakes presented by Relyne GI by Hagyard (G3) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

Owned by Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg, Gandharvi and Brook T. Smith, Hall of Fame was ridden by Jose Ortiz for trainer Steve Asmussen. The son of Horse of the Year Gun Runner covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.89 to secure his third straight victory and the fourth of his career. Smith, of Louisville, bought into the $1.4 million yearling at the same time he bought into 3-year-old champion Sierra Leone, winner of Keeneland’s G1 Toyota Blue Grass and the Breeders’ Cup Classic and second by a nose in the Kentucky Derby.

“He’s really putting it together,” said trainer Steve Asmussen, who is in racing’s Hall of Fame. “He’s an exciting horse from a tremendous family. It was very impressive today how he showed a new dimension by sitting behind a slow opening half-mile and coming home in a fast time. … I’m very thankful we were able to give him the time to fill in and grow into himself. I think the sky is the limit.”

After an even beginning, Ortiz positioned Hall of Fame in third, tracking Maycocks Bay, who led Komorebino Omoide through an opening quarter in :24.46. After a half-mile in :48.60, Komorebino Omoide began to find his best stride and drew even with the leader at the quarter pole. As they reached mid-stretch, Ortiz angled Hall of Fame three-wide while Komorebino Omoide began to draw clear of Maycocks Bay. Inside the final sixteenth, Hall of Fame began to find his best stride but Komorebino Omoide fought back along the rail. At the wire, Hall of Fame prevailed by a head.

“He broke great and put me in a great position down the backside,” Ortiz said. “Steve and his team did a really good job with him, and it really showed with him having to battle down the lane after a slow pace early.”

Following the race, jockey Jansen Melancon lodged an objection against Ortiz for interference in the stretch, but stewards disallowed the claim.

“The distance isn’t a problem for my horse,” Melancon said of the Robertino Diodoro-trained Japanese-bred son of Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner California Chrome. “I think the bumping slowed him down. He was coming back.”

Maycocks Bay held third, finishing 1 ¾ lengths ahead of Batten Down. Heroic Move, Tuscan Sky, Catching Freedom and Warrior Johny completed the order of finish.

Hall of Fame, the 8-5 favorite, returned $5.40, $4.20, and $3. Komorebino Omoide paid $9.40 and $5, while Maycocks Bay, under Ben Curtis, returned $7 to show.

With the victory, Hall of Fame improved his career record to 7-4-1-0, boosting his earnings to $322,960.

A Kentucky-bred son of Gun Runner out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Flag Day, Hall of Fame was bred by Earle I. Mack. He is from the female family of of G1 Whitney and Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Diversify. After finishing second at Churchill Downs in his debut last fall, Hall of Fame last year won a maiden race by 10 lengths at the Fair Grounds. Hopes of a Kentucky Derby run ended with off the board finishes in the 2024 Risen Star and Louisiana Derby. He returned earlier this winter at the Fair Grounds to win two two allowance races before the Mineshaft.

Last year’s Louisiana Derby winner Catching Freedom, fourth in the Kentucky Derby and third in the Preakness, was never a serious challenge in his first race since coming in fourth in last June’s Ohio Derby (G3).

“I tried to get him into a good position early, but they went slow, and he got keen on me,” said jockey Flavien Prat. “He didn’t fire his best race today.”