Sharp indeed! Ex-claim Money Supply wins first graded stakes in Mineshaft

Fair Grounds stakes recap by Kevin Kilroy. Hodges Photography photo

“He’s a horse who keeps raising the bar every time we run him,” Sharp says

New Orleans, La (Feb. 17, 2024) – Money Supply outgamed Best Actor down the homestretch in the $250,000 Mineshaft Stakes Presented by Relyne GI By Hagyard (G3) to win his first graded stakes by a head. Owned by Jordan Wycoff, Money Supply beat eight older males going 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.04 over a main track rated “sloppy.”

With his win in the Mineshaft, Money Supply has never finished out of the exacta for trainer Joe Sharp, and now has won five races in a row, including the Claiming Crown Jewel held on Dec. 2 at Fair Grounds. Sharp claimed the 5-year-old horse last August at Saratoga.

“He’s got to be up there as one of the top claims in my career,” Sharp said. “Now we’ve won five in a row at all these different tracks. He’s a horse who keeps raising the bar every time we run him. He’s developed into a different type of horse since we first claimed him. Now he could put the rider up into the race more. That’s what he did today and was a big key. We’re really looking forward to seeing how he can keep developing and raising the bar.”

Best Actor secured the early lead while taking pressure from two foes to his outside, rattling off the opening fractions in :23.92 and :46.97. Creeping closer to the leading trio in the far turn, Money Supply measured up Best Actor, sparred and prevailed, holding off that foe’s gutsy last gasp. Having pressured the front-runner early, Gasoline held on for third late, 3 3/4 lengths back. Red Route One offered a late rally to finish a neck shy in fourth.

“All the credit goes to Joe and his team,” Gaffalione said. “The early speed duel set up well for us. Going into the stretch, I had a lot of horse beneath me and he came home really well. He’s the type of horse who will run well over anything.”

Money Supply cashed in at $20.20, $4.80, and $3.30. Best Actor paid $2.80, $2.40. Gasoline returned $4.40.

Hanging the Mineshaft Banner and procuring $150,000, the son of Practical Joke now stacks $600,772 in lifetime earnings and sports 16-7-2-2 career stats.

Additional Quotes:

Brad Cox, trainer of place-finisher Best Actor

“He ran a good race. They went fast upfront and he was getting pressure the whole way. He fought on until the end. It was a good first step for his campaign this year.”