Mark Valeski finds running room, wins Mineshaft

Mark Valeski easily proved best after being negotiated out of a tough spot in the Mineshaft (Jamie Hernandez/Hodges Photography) After racing behind rivals most of the way, Mark Valeski altered course to the outside in midstretch and charged to the lead in Saturday’s Grade 3, $148,500 Mineshaft at Fair Grounds. The Larry Jones-trained colt went on to post a comfortable one-length tally with jockey Rosie Napravnik, returning to the winner’s circle in his second attempt since capturing last year’s Grade 2 Peter Pan at Belmont Park. A Brereton Jones homebred, Mark Valeski established himself as a Kentucky Derby prospect when finishing a nose second in his stakes debut, the Grade 2 Risen Star 12 months ago at Fair Grounds. His connections elected to skip the Kentucky Derby and point toward June’s Belmont Stakes following a half-length second in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby and Mark Valeski looked promising when prepping with a sharp 1 1/4-length score in the Peter Pan in May. However, he headed to the sidelines with an injury and did not return to action until the January 19 Louisiana Handicap, finishing a close second.

The four-year-old son of Proud Citizen took a step forward off the comebacker
on Saturday. After breaking sharply from post 2, Mark Valeski was guided to the
rail, just behind Hero of Order, who showed the way into the first turn while
being chased by Infrattini to his outside. The pacesetter recorded the opening
quarter-mile in :25 1/5 and the half-mile in :49 3/5, with an eager Mark Valeski
under a snug hold while being boxed in down the backstretch.

Mark Valeski continued to race in tight quarters through the far turn as Hero
of Honor reached the three-quarters mark in 1:14 4/5. Golden Ticket, who raced
next to Mark Valeski in fourth during the early stages, advanced along the
outside rounding the bend to make it three abreast as the leaders entered the
stretch drive. Mark Valeski was still trapped down on the inside with nowhere to
run.

“I think everybody had some anxious moments there, including myself,”
Napravnik said. “We were really boxed in and I know I was sitting behind a
couple of horses that were going to make a run and they just weren’t running
fast enough.”

Napravnik shifted her mount several paths to the outside passing the
three-sixteenths pole for clear sailing and Mark Valeski instantly responded,
surging to the front in commanding fashion. He completed the 1 1/16-mile
distance in 1:44 4/5.

“I was finally was able to tip to the outside and, I mean, he just took off
and he was much the best today,” Napravnik said. “He is such a class horse and
just a nice horse to be around so I am thankful for Larry and Brereton for
having me on today.”

“He was totally boxed in,” Jones concurred. “Those jocks are smart. Don’t
ever underestimate their ability to find ways to beat you in competition. Rosie
had no way to go but finally got his head turned and ran out of there.”

The 4-5 favorite returned $3.80, $2.60 and $2.10 to his supporters.

“As a baby he was always extremely intelligent,” Jones added. “I have found
over the years that there is a correlation between intelligence and talent and
this colt has them both.”

Cool Street, who brought a four-race winning streak into his stakes debut,
rallied from off the pace late to edge 5-2 second choice Golden Ticket by
a neck for second at 14-1 odds. Golden Ticket was in turn 1 1/4 lengths better
than Hero Of Order, who was followed under the wire by Infrattini, Macho Bull
and Raison d’Etat.

With the $90,000 payday, Mark Valeski has now earned $540,952 from a 8-4-3-0
career line.

“Well, you know, we are going to plan to stay here for the (Grade 2) New
Orleans Handicap (on March 30),” Jones said. “It’s a big-dollar race and we are
going to have a lot of competition with (Grade 1 Donn winner) Graydar and (Donn
runner-up) Bourbon Courage coming in. So we are going to get a shot to really
see what they got in their hand here.”

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