Search

Crack Field For Cigar Mile

A solid field will line up in Saturday’s $500,000 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct with G1 winners Secret Circle and Itsmyluckyday facing off against an impressive cast.

The Cigar Mile anchors a Group card that includes the $400,000 Remsen Stakes for juveniles, the $400,000 Demoiselle Stakes for juvenile fillies and the $400,000 Comely Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

California shipper Secret Circle leads the Cigar Mile field for California’s Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert.

Though he has yet to win in 2014 Secret Circle has not been off the board in three starts and comes off a runner-up finish by half a length in the G1 Breeders' Cup Sprint, a race he won in 2013.

Secret Circle, who drew post 6 under jockey Joel Rosario, stretches out beyond six furlongs for the first time since he finished second as a 3-year-old in the 2012 Arkansas Derby.

Private Zone, trained by Alfredo Velazquez, was runner-up to G1 winner Flat Out in the 2013 edition of the Cigar Mile.

He also ships in from California and comes off a third in the Breeders' Cup Sprint, 1 1/4 lengths behind Secret Circle. IT’s the same program he used as a springboard to this event last year.

Private Zone and Secret Circle share highweight assignment of 122 pounds with Itsmyluckyday.

Trained by Eddie Plesa Jr., Itsmyluckyday was rested after running third in the G2 Kelso Handicap won by fellow Cigar Mile contender Vyjack in September.

He has not been off the board in seven starts in 2014 since rehabbing from a pelvic fracture. He won three races in a row before finishing second in the G1 Whitney en route to a victory in the Woodward at Saratoga.

Seeking his first G1 in what could be his final start before he stands at Spendthrift Farm in 2015, Itsmyluckyday drew post 2 and will have regular rider Paco Lopez in the irons.

Bourbon Courage, fourth in the Breeders' Cup Sprint, is an intriguing contender still in search of his first G1 victory.

He made up tremendous ground in the Sprint, closing 10 lengths for trainer Kellyn Gorder.

Another of interest is Godolphin's Transparent, who set a track record for 1 1/16 miles at Belmont Park on September 18 in his last outing.


Bloodhorse

today's racing

Error occured
{{disciplineGroup.DisciplineFullText}}
{{course.CountryName || course.Country}}