Amerman Racing’s Demarcation, void of early foot in
Saturday’s Grade III Mineshaft Handicap, launched a strong bid after
being set down for the drive, engaged Twin Creeks Racing Stable’s favored Mission
Impazible inside the furlong grounds and outfought that rival to prove best
by a head in the designed prep for the upcoming Grade II New Orleans
Handicap at Fair Grounds on March 26.
“He’s such a consistent horse,” said winning trainer Paul
McGee in the winner’s circle immediately after the Mineshaft. “He runs his
race every time. He ran really big in the (Grade I) Clark Handicap at Churchill
last fall against a stellar field and (winning rider Rosie Napravnik)
fits this horse to a ‘tee.’ She let him fall out of there and let him settle
and came rolling late.”
Demarcation increased his career earnings to $625,050 with
his 10th win in 37 lifetime starts, toured the 1 1/16-mile distance in 1:45.40
and paid $7.60, $3.40 and $2.40.
Mission Impazible, winner of last season’s Louisiana Derby
here, returned $3.20 and $2.10 while Adele Dilschneider’s Apart, 2
1/2-lengths farther back, paid $2.10 to show. Mission Impazible and Zayat
Stable’s Z Humor had alternated for early splits of 23.35 and 48.75.