Happy Cigar Mile Day! 

Today we have the final big card of year at the Big A with four graded stakes races headlined by the Cigar Mile. In addition, the Demoiselle and Remsen are significant early preps for the Oaks and Derby respectively as the two year olds will go two turns. The Remsen has been maligned for not producing Derby winners – but it is a key race as these colts enter their three year old seasons. Recent Remsen winners have included Catholic Boy (Belmont, Travers), Mo Donegal (Haskell, Belmont), and Dornach (Belmont, Haskell). 

Trivia question: Who was the trainer of Cigar? 

Race 7 The Remsen – Grade II 

One Mile and a Furlong on the Dirt for Two Year Olds 

1.Tux: Impressive winner at first asking where he pressed the pace from the outside post and then kicked on in the final eighth to draw off (78 Beyer). Showed he could sit chilly and the extra ground today should help as well. Trainer Stat: Bill Mott has won at a 43% clip (from a small sample) with two years olds moving from a maiden win to a graded stakes race over the past two years. The Pick. 

2. Aviator Gui: Broke his maiden in an off the turf race for the Chad Brown barn. Came back off that win in the Awad Stakes routing on the turf and was a decent fourth. Now it’s back to the dirt, this time going two turns. This colt has impeccable connections, but what’s the plan? Possible.
3. Poster: Has started his career with two wins, both which were contended on the turf.  Eoin Harty ships this Munnings colt in from Kentucky. Pedigree indicates dirt should work. He’s shown he can run but let’s see what it looks like on dirt. Wait and see.
4. Studlydoright: Winner of the Tremont back at the Belmont at the Spa meet came back off that to finish a close up second in the Sanford. Last out he had a nice stalk and pounce trip in the Nashua Stakes where he wore down the leader in the lane (86 Beyer). Extra distance should suit. Hits the board.
5. Keewydin: Has put together two big time Beyers figs in his two career starts for Chad Brown. Last out he broke his maiden (91 Beyer) over this track going seven furlongs. Dylan Davis stays aboard. Logical favorite.
6. Surfside Moon: Moves back to the dirt after an uneventful performance in the Awad on the turf. Will need a major move forward in his fourth career dirt race. Beyer top is 63. Passing.
7. Gun Trader: Broke his maiden last out at Parx going two turns (45 Beyer) in his sixth career start. Uriah St. Lewis is taking a shot off that win. Draws to the outside again which he also did in his maiden breaker. Hard to see.

Picks 1-5-4-2 

Race 9 The Cigar Mile Handicap – Grade II 

One Mile on the Dirt For Three Year Olds and Upward 

1. Book’em Danno: Hasn’t missed the board in six starts this year with three stakes wins including the Grade I Woody Stevens.  Last out in the Perryville Stakes at Keeneland he had to weave through traffic in the lane and just missed (99 Beyer). In the Jerkens two back it was a similar story – off the pace and had to pick through traffic (104 Beyer). Live runner.
2. Nelson Avenue: In the Forty Niner he got to the lead and kicked clear but was run down by Coastal Mission (90 Beyer) in the final eighth.  That was the third strong straight performance since Wayne Potts picked up this gelding in August. Might get cooked on the front end.
3. Repo Rocks: Last out in the Forty Niner he rode the rail to a promising position but was boxed in (87 Beyer). Two back in the Parx Dirt Mile he was up on the pace and held second as Coastal Mission got the W (91 Beyer). A step below the best here.
4. Vinsanity: Longshot runner is making his sixteenth start of the year. His only win of the year is over this track against N2L company (82 Beyer). Not fast enough. Passing.
5. Mullikin: Won his first four starts of this four year old campaign including a dominate performance in the Forego at the Spa (105 Beyer).  In the Breeders’ Cup Sprint he ran well while finishing third (96 Beyer). Does he want to go a mile – that’s the question. Dangerous.
6. Law Professor: Has won three of four starts this year with all three wins coming against conditioned claiming company. Moves to Grade II company today in his second race off a five month layoff. Looks for a comfortable spot just off the pace and then moves when asked. Lasix comes OFF. Will need his best.
7. Locked: Three year old takes on elders in his second race after a long layoff. Pletcher trainee was the favorite in the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile finishing third to Fierceness. He was off for eleven months after that race and came back in an N2X race going seven panels over this surface where he won like a 2/5 shot should (98 Beyer). Lasix comes OFF. Dangerous.
8. Pipeline: Cheri DeVaux runs this six year old colt off a bit of a freshening after winning on the front end at Churchill in September against high end allowance company (91 Beyer). Best performances are on the front end. Race flow appears to not favor his front end tactics.
9. Senor Buscador: Comes in off a fifth place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Classic where ran decently as he made a nice inside move but was no match for the top ones (103 Beyer). Won the Saudi Cup earlier this year for a big payday and was second in this race last year. Hits the board.
10. Coastal Mission: Last out in the Forty Niner he stalked the pace setter and then wore down the leader in the lane (91 Beyer). Two back in the Parx Dirt Mile he won with a sweeping run on the turn and then hung on (92 Beyer). He’s decent, but this is the class test. Needs to be faster.
11. Post Time: Winner of the Carter Handicap comes here off a second place performance in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile where he ran well but had too much to do late (103 Beyer). He finished up close behind Arthur’s Ride in the Whitney and National Treasure in the Met Mile. Can close or sit mid-pack. Has been in the exacta in all five mile races. The Pick.

Picks 11-7-9-1 

Trivia Answer: The incomparable Cigar was trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott who guided Cigar through the sixteen race win streak – which included ten Grade 1 wins.