Mrs. Fitriani Hay's REDDING COLLIERY (Mineshaft) made all the pace in
Saturday's $250,000 Hawthorne Gold Cup (G2), opening a sizable early advantage before holding on
to win by three parts of a length. Favored at 3-2 in the eight-horse field, the
Kiaran McLaughlin-trained four-year-old punched his ticket to the Breeders' Cup
Classic (G1) and turned 1 1/4 miles over the fast Chicago track in 2:04.
With Anna Napravnik up, Redding Colliery led by a head through an opening
quarter-mile in :23 1/5 and by two lengths after a half-mile in :47. He
continued to widen his advantage as approached the far turn, passing the
six-furlong mark in 1:10 4/5 with a four-length cushion, and appeared on his way
to a convincing decision as he entered the stretch.
The gray colt led by 8 1/2 lengths after completing a mile in 1:37, but Giant
Oak (Giant's Causeway) and A. U. Miner (Mineshaft) rallied strongly in the final
quarter-mile to make it interesting late.
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