Fair Grounds: Newly Minted Millionaire Miles Ahead Repeats in Thanksgiving Classic

By Kevin Kilroy —-

Miles Ahead; Hodges Photography
Newly Minted Millionaire Miles Ahead Repeats in Thanksgiving Classic

New Orleans, La (Nov. 28, 2024) – Unraced since April, Jay Em Ess Stable’s Miles Ahead overcame long odds to yet again prove his tenacity, scoring in the 100th running of the $225,000 Thanksgiving Classic at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots for the second year in a row. With Thursday’s victory, the 7-year-old trained by Paul McGee surpassed $1 million in lifetime earnings.7

A multiple stakes winner, including the Smile Sprint (G3), Miles Ahead covered the 6 furlongs across the fast main track in 1:09.03. The betting public let last year’s champion go off at 15-1.

Colby Hernandez piloted the 14-time winner through an inside pressing trip. Even-money favorite Montalcino led the pack of nine through swift calls of :21.83 and :44.65. After getting a breather in the far turn, Miles Ahead tipped out at the quarter pole and began his dogged pursuit, chasing down the leader and surging to the front at the wire. Minnesota Ready rallied up the rail for third. Komorebino Omoide (JPM) rounded out the superfecta.

“I want to thank Paul McGee and Neil Howard for this opportunity,” Hernandez said. “(Miles Ahead) is such a cool horse. He put me in a good spot early. When I tipped him out and we got closer and closer to the wire, it was like he knew where the wire was. He did his best running at the very end.”

With McGee in Kentucky wrapping up the Churchill Downs meet, assistant trainer Neil Howard was on hand to saddle Miles Ahead. Trainer of Summer Squall and Mineshaft, Howard is one of the most highly revered horsemen in the sport.

“(Miles Ahead) is one of those older horses that you need to space his races and find the right spots,” Howard said. “When things set up for him like they did today, he’s very, very effective.”

Miles Ahead rewarded his faithful, paying out $33.80. $11.40, and $5.80.

In 35 lifetime starts, Miles Ahead has a 14-5-3 record. With his $135,000 share of the Thanksgiving Classic purse, his bankroll swelled to an impressive $1,077,713.

Racing resumes on Friday at Fair Grounds with 9-race program. First post on Friday and Saturday will be 12:45 p.m. CT. The abbreviated racing week wraps on Saturday with a 9-race card featuring the $100,000 Pan Zareta Stakes, which attracted an oversubscribed field of 14 runners.

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About Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots

Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, one of the nation’s oldest racetracks, has been in operation since 1872. Located in New Orleans, La, Fair Grounds, which is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN), also operates a slot-machine gaming facility and 15 off-track betting parlors throughout Southeast Louisiana. The 153rd Thoroughbred Racing Season–highlighted by the 112th running of the Louisiana Derby–will run from Nov. 22, 2024 through March 23, 2025. More information is available online at www.fgno.com.