Private Zone, runner-up to Flat Out in the 2013 edition of the G1 Cigar Mile, returned to Aqueduct on Saturday to claim a wire to wire victory.

The 5-year-old gelded son of Macho Uno completed the mile under jockey Martin Pedroza in 1:34.39 over a fast track by five lengths.

He is trained by Alfredo Velazquez for Good Friends Stable, a group that includes retired paralyzed jockey Rene Douglas.

Private Zone came off a third in the Breeders' Cup Sprint at Santa Anita to win the Cigar Mile.

One start prior to his Breeders' Cup effort he won the G1 Vosburgh Stakes at Belmont Park for the second season in a row.

"He was great. That was the way I was expecting him to run because he was training super,” said Velazquez.

"The fractions didn't bother me because he was doing it easy. Everything inside today was running."

"Unbelievable performance," Pedroza said. "I was expecting him to run good, but not that good.”

Jockey Joel Rosario said Secret Circle, the 2013 Breeders' Cup Sprint winner and secoind this year, had a bit of a bad start.

"When I came out of the gate, he kind of stumbled a little bit, but he recovered really quickly," Rosario explained. "I can't believe the horse on the lead just kept on going. I was trying to track him and stay with him, but he was in command the whole way."

Private Zone is now 7-7-2 from 25 career starts for earnings of $1,521,820. He was a $15,000 purchase from the 2010 Keeneland September yearling sale from the Adena consignment when Douglas K. Rogelio signed the ticket.

Private Zone spent the early part of his career in Panama, where he earned three victories including a G1 win before launching his US career in 2012.