PRAYERS ANSWERED IN THE CIGAR MILE HANDICAP
By: Michael Amo, Thorofan Board Member
It is my honor to handicap this year’s Cigar Mile Handicap (G2). I remember vividly watching him stand majestically at the rail, readying for his morning workouts at Saratoga Racecourse. It brought chills to my neck and back.
On the dirt, he only ran out of the money one time, accumulating 18 wins in 22 starts on that surface. He won the Breeders’ Cup Classic in 1995 and was named Horse of the Year in both 1995 and 1996.
From age 4 until his retirement, Hall of Fame Bill Mott trained him. In the early races, the combo of Cigar/Mott/Bailey ruled, at least that was the buzz.
This weekend a short field of seven horses honors him 21 years after he died. The weather at Aqueduct looks to be perfect for racing. Here is the field.
1. Doc Sullivan (Solomini) Is the lone NY bred horse in the race. Last summer at Saratoga, he tried a Grade 1 race for the first time, finishing 4th behind Book’em Danno, a head behind a hard-closing Crazy Mason, who he faces in this race. Could surprise
2. Mika (Catholic Boy) Tries graded company and Aqueduct for the first time. He is fast and will challenge for the lead. He won his last by 14 lengths in an 8.5 furlong allowance race. Has stamina to be running late.
3. Pentathlon (Spreightstown) Is a home bred by Phipps Stable. Working a bullet for this race. New to graded races with a win in an open claimer at Aqueduct. Doesn’t seem fast enough to challenge others in the race. Maybe in deep exotics.
4. Crazy Mason (Coal Front) Working well for this race. Had trouble after hitting the gate in the Forego this year at Saratoga. May like a little shorter race, but fits here.
5. Brazenly (Grazen) Johnny Velaquez replaces Irad Ortiz, who stays on Crazy Mason. Recent Beyer figures aren’t as strong as others. Could be closing for a share.
6. Phileas Fogg (Astern-Aus) Seems to be the fastest and the one to catch. Does well at Aqueduct. Showed his strength with a 3rd place in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (GI) at Saratoga. He could win wire to wire.
7. Bishops Bay (Uncle Mo) Has a 2-for-2 record at Aqueduct. Keeps jockey Prat after a near wire-to-wire win in a grade three at Aqueduct. Bred by Winstar Farm and sold at Keeneland auction for $1,300,000. His race to lose.
Analysis
The race looks like Phileas Fogg will be on or close to the pace. In the stretch Bishops Bay, Doc Sullivan and Crazy Mason will challenge him. Bishops Bay and Phileas Fogg will duel to the wire, with Bishops Bay winning.
Here is how they will finish:
7. Bishops Bay (2-1)
6. Phileas Fogg (9-5)
1. Doc Sullivan (5-1)
4. Crazy Mason (7-2)
Handigamble
$20 win:7. Bishops Bay = $20
$50 Place: 7. Bishops Bay = $50
$1 Trifecta Box: 1,4,6 and 7 =$24
$1 Trifecta Key: 4 with 1,6,7 with 1,6,7 = $6
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