Mineshaft (USA)
May 17, 1999 – Living
A.P. Indy (USA) x Prospectors Delite (USA), by Mr. Prospector (USA)
Family 1-x
May 17, 1999 – Living
A.P. Indy (USA) x Prospectors Delite (USA), by Mr. Prospector (USA)
Family 1-x
Blessed with an exceptionally deep pedigree on both the sire’s and dam’s sides, Mineshaft was expected to be a top-class horse from the day of his birth. He showed only modest form in England and France as a 3-year-old but improved markedly at 4, when he raced in American dirt. Winning seven of nine races that year, he concluded his season with three straight Grade 1 wins, enough to secure American Horse of the Year honors for 2003 in spite of missing the Breeders’ Cup. He has been a good but not outstanding sire.
Race record
18 starts, 10 wins, 3 seconds, 1 third, US$2,283,402 (including converted foreign earnings)
2002:
2003:
Honors
Assessments
Rated at 127 pounds on the 2003 International Classifications for his performance in the Woodward Stakes, 6 pounds below overall highweight Hawk Wing but tied with Pacific Classic (USA-G1) winner Candy Ride for the best performance on dirt.
As an individual
A smoothly made dark bay or brown horse, Mineshaft stands 16.1½ hands. He handled both fast and off surfaces well but was not as effective on turf as he was on dirt. He was retired from racing in October 2003 due to concerns regarding a chip in his right fore ankle, a problem that had emerged three months earlier; the horse was also showing signs of wear and tear in a knee.
As a stallion
As of November 23, 2024, Mineshaft has sired 62 stakes winners according to records maintained by The Jockey Club. He is generally a sire of two-turn horses.
Sire rankings
Arion Pedigrees (www.arion.co.nz):
Per El Turf (www.elturf.com):
Notable progeny
Bond Holder (USA), Dialed In (USA), Discreetly Mine (USA), Dr. Moon (USA), Effinex (USA), It’s Tricky (USA), Senor Buscador (USA), Weep No More (USA), Writer’s Almanac (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Cathryn Sophia (USA), Express Train (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Mineshaft was bred and owned by William Farish III in partnership with W. Temple Webber and James Elkins. He was trained by John Gosden while in England and by Neil Howard in the United States. He entered stud in 2008 in Kentucky at Lane’s End Farm.
Pedigree notes
Mineshaft is inbred 5x5 to five-time American champion sire Nasrullah. He is a full brother to multiple Grade 1 winner Tomisue’s Delight, dam of 2009 Maker’s Mark Mile Stakes (USA-G1) winner Mr. Sidney (by Storm Cat) and second dam of Grade 3 winner Term of Art. He is also a full brother to Grade 3-placed stakes winner Rock Slide and a half brother to Irish Group 3 winner Monashee Mountain (by Danzig) and to Grade 3-placed Delta Music (by Dixieland Band).
Prospectors Delite, the dam of Mineshaft and his siblings, is a half sister to 1995 Premio Presidente della Repubblica (ITY-G1) winner Flagbird (by Nureyev), second dam of four stakes winners including 2008 Ashland Stakes (USA-G1) winner Little Belle and English Group 3 winner Newfangled. Prospectors Delite is also a half sister to 1997 Alabama Stakes (USA-G1) winner Runup the Colors (by A.P. Indy), dam of Grade 2 winner Revolutionary (by War Pass). In addition, she is a half sister to Grade 2 winner Top Account (by Private Account) and to stakes winners Fold the Flag (by Raja Baba), Allied Flag (by Danzig), and Long View (by Damascus). The last-named mare is the dam of stakes winners Overview (by Kingmambo) and Music Club (by Dixieland Band) and stakes producer Open View (by Southern Image).
Prospectors Delite is out of 1981 Delaware Oaks (USA-G2) winner Up the Flagpole (by Hoist the Flag), a half sister to multiple Grade 3 winner Nostalgia (by Silent Screen) and stakes winner Blushing Cathy (by Blushing Groom). Produced from the Herbager mare The Garden Club, Up the Flagpole is also a half sister to Hidden Garden (by Mr. Prospector), dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Jazz Club (by Dixieland Band) and to Exotic Garden (by Bold Ruler), dam of multiple stakes winner Lines of Power (by Raise a Native) and second dam of 1997 Jamaican Horse of the Year Temperence Oaks. In addition, Up the Flagpole is a half sister to Tacida (by Vitriolic), second dam of French Group 3 winner La Carene, and to Dinner Meeting (by Bold Ruler), third dam of Grade 3 winner Bully Bones.
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photo taken by Jessica Morgan in 2008 at Lane's End Farm. Used by permission.
Last updated: November 23, 2024
Race record
18 starts, 10 wins, 3 seconds, 1 third, US$2,283,402 (including converted foreign earnings)
2002:
- 3rd Prix Daphnis (FR-G3, 1600mT, Longchamp)
2003:
- Won Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Belmont)
- Won Pimlico Special Handicap (USA-G1, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
- Won New Orleans Handicap (USA-G2, 9FD, Fair Grounds)
- Won Suburban Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, Belmont),
- Won Woodward Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
- Won Ben Ali Stakes (USA-G3, 9FD, Keeneland)
- Won Diplomat Way Handicap (USA-L, 8.5FD, Fair Grounds)
- 2nd Stephen Foster Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Churchill Downs)
- 2nd Whirlaway Handicap (USA-G3, 8.5FD, Fair Grounds)
Honors
- Fair Grounds Hall of Fame (inducted in 2015)
- Eclipse Award, American Horse of the Year (2003)
- Eclipse Award, American champion older male (2003)
Assessments
Rated at 127 pounds on the 2003 International Classifications for his performance in the Woodward Stakes, 6 pounds below overall highweight Hawk Wing but tied with Pacific Classic (USA-G1) winner Candy Ride for the best performance on dirt.
As an individual
A smoothly made dark bay or brown horse, Mineshaft stands 16.1½ hands. He handled both fast and off surfaces well but was not as effective on turf as he was on dirt. He was retired from racing in October 2003 due to concerns regarding a chip in his right fore ankle, a problem that had emerged three months earlier; the horse was also showing signs of wear and tear in a knee.
As a stallion
As of November 23, 2024, Mineshaft has sired 62 stakes winners according to records maintained by The Jockey Club. He is generally a sire of two-turn horses.
Sire rankings
Arion Pedigrees (www.arion.co.nz):
- 10th on the North American general sire list in 2010.
Per El Turf (www.elturf.com):
- Led the Mexican broodmare sire list in 2021.
Notable progeny
Bond Holder (USA), Dialed In (USA), Discreetly Mine (USA), Dr. Moon (USA), Effinex (USA), It’s Tricky (USA), Senor Buscador (USA), Weep No More (USA), Writer’s Almanac (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Cathryn Sophia (USA), Express Train (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Mineshaft was bred and owned by William Farish III in partnership with W. Temple Webber and James Elkins. He was trained by John Gosden while in England and by Neil Howard in the United States. He entered stud in 2008 in Kentucky at Lane’s End Farm.
Pedigree notes
Mineshaft is inbred 5x5 to five-time American champion sire Nasrullah. He is a full brother to multiple Grade 1 winner Tomisue’s Delight, dam of 2009 Maker’s Mark Mile Stakes (USA-G1) winner Mr. Sidney (by Storm Cat) and second dam of Grade 3 winner Term of Art. He is also a full brother to Grade 3-placed stakes winner Rock Slide and a half brother to Irish Group 3 winner Monashee Mountain (by Danzig) and to Grade 3-placed Delta Music (by Dixieland Band).
Prospectors Delite, the dam of Mineshaft and his siblings, is a half sister to 1995 Premio Presidente della Repubblica (ITY-G1) winner Flagbird (by Nureyev), second dam of four stakes winners including 2008 Ashland Stakes (USA-G1) winner Little Belle and English Group 3 winner Newfangled. Prospectors Delite is also a half sister to 1997 Alabama Stakes (USA-G1) winner Runup the Colors (by A.P. Indy), dam of Grade 2 winner Revolutionary (by War Pass). In addition, she is a half sister to Grade 2 winner Top Account (by Private Account) and to stakes winners Fold the Flag (by Raja Baba), Allied Flag (by Danzig), and Long View (by Damascus). The last-named mare is the dam of stakes winners Overview (by Kingmambo) and Music Club (by Dixieland Band) and stakes producer Open View (by Southern Image).
Prospectors Delite is out of 1981 Delaware Oaks (USA-G2) winner Up the Flagpole (by Hoist the Flag), a half sister to multiple Grade 3 winner Nostalgia (by Silent Screen) and stakes winner Blushing Cathy (by Blushing Groom). Produced from the Herbager mare The Garden Club, Up the Flagpole is also a half sister to Hidden Garden (by Mr. Prospector), dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Jazz Club (by Dixieland Band) and to Exotic Garden (by Bold Ruler), dam of multiple stakes winner Lines of Power (by Raise a Native) and second dam of 1997 Jamaican Horse of the Year Temperence Oaks. In addition, Up the Flagpole is a half sister to Tacida (by Vitriolic), second dam of French Group 3 winner La Carene, and to Dinner Meeting (by Bold Ruler), third dam of Grade 3 winner Bully Bones.
Fun facts
- Mineshaft received the 2003 New York Turf Writers’ Association’s Secretariat Award as the best horse to race in New York during the 2003 season.
- Mineshaft is the namesake for a Grade 3 stakes race for older horses at the Fair Grounds.
Photo credit
Photo taken by Jessica Morgan in 2008 at Lane's End Farm. Used by permission.
Last updated: November 23, 2024