Horse Racing

Zandon, White Abarrio facing their elders at Cigar Mile


Although Cigar did not gain national attention until the age of 4, the race at Aqueduct race track named after twice The Horse of the Year has been quite kind to 3-year-olds.

Two of the last three winners of the $750,000 Cigar Handicap (G1) were 3-year-olds, and three of the last six first-place finishers are in the middle of the sophomore season.

In the upcoming one-mile run at Big A on December 3, the 3-year-olds are once again the center of attention with the 1st grade winners Zandon and White Abarrio among the six fields also include older 1st grade winners Mind control who will begin his final match, and Get her number .

O Besos was entered into an initial field of seven, but will not run due to restrictions on horses as he is at the stables Churchill Downswhere six horses have tested positive for equine herpes virus through November 30, the New York Racing Association announced Wednesday that it will not be accepting consignees from Churchill Downs for until further notice.

“The three-year-old has a good track record in the race and hopefully he can follow in his footsteps,” said coach Saffie Joseph Jr. talking about White Abarrio.

Registration for

Jeff Drown’s Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) winner, Zandon, entered the first test against older competitors like a steadfast gem. Taking four grade 1 stakes this year, he’s delivered nothing but solid record after achievement this year for coach Chad Brown.

After finishing third in the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), the son of start second epicenter favorite for the championship 3 years old, in Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) and then third behind him in Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) while losing second place to electronic knife .

Run for the third time in two months, then he finished second in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1), behind Taiba but beat Cyberknife.

“He’s been tough in every race. He’s tried his best every single time while taking the lead a few times, but he’s always right there. I think he’ll pull through here.” Drown said. “We gave him some time after the Pennsylvania Derby to freshen him up a bit and get him ready for the upcoming campaign after a very good three-year season. To knock the horses down. top of your class every time you go out, and you run over like he did, you have every reason to hold your head high.”

Rested since then, the one who made $1,440,000, the second to second Mo Donegal last year in the Remsen Stakes (G2) at the Aqueduct, he worked hard to get back in the race.

Brown said: “He had a great job on Saturday and he was ready to go. “I like the way he trains.”

Get out creative cause Mare Memories Prevail, Zandon’s 2023 journey will be shaped by Saturday’s race.

“There are some interesting races out there but it’s hard to say what’s coming next,” Drown said of Mike Ryan’s purchase of $170,000, dealer, from Brereton breeder C. Jones’ consignment. and Airdrie Stud at Keeneland’s Annual September Sale. “Some questions will be answered here and that will help us make some decisions. The Pegasus World Cup (Championship Invitational, G1) is being discussed. If this race fits the bill, we will. (Hill ‘n ‘ Dale Metropolitan Handicap, G1) will also be a great race to target.”

Given the large number of top 3 and older horses retired or nearing retirement, New York’s 2022 final tier 1 stake could mark Zandon as one of the top horses worth watching for the year. 2023.

“What needs to happen now is that someone has to come forward and prove themselves. There are some very talented horses out there that have some question marks and questions that need to be answered in races like this in order to be able to do that. figure out who’s going to be at the top of the group next year,” Drown said.

(LR): White Abarrio and Saffie Joseph Jr. <br /> Training at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., on May 1, 2022.” src=”https://cms-images.bloodhorse.com/i/bloodhorse-images/2022/05/d05c4cf84bfd4e5ab9beee5a0469d16d.jpg?preset =medium” style=”border-width: 0px;” title=”(LR): White Abarrio and Saffie Joseph Jr. <br /> Training at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., on May 1, 2022.”/><figcaption><small>Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt</small></p>
<p>(LR): White Abarrio and Saffie Joseph Jr. <br />at Churchill Downs</p>
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<p>Antonio Pagnano’s C Two Racing Stable and White Abarrio enjoyed a great winter and early spring, taking part in the Florida Curlin Derby hosted by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa (G1) and Holy Bull Stakes (G3) , but has been erratic since then, starting with 16th in the Kentucky Derby.</p>
<p>“You can’t complain when a horse wins the Florida Derby and gets you to the Kentucky Derby,” Joseph said of his son. <span class=Race day . “Obviously he didn’t run the way we expected in the Kentucky Derby, but just getting there is great for us.”

After Run for the Roses, the Spendthrift Farm-bred gray pony finished second in the Ohio Derby (G3) before finishing seventh in TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1) and the most recent fifth in the game. Pennsylvania Derby.

“He was fifth in the Pennsylvania Derby and normally you’re not happy with that but I think it’s a stepping stone in the right direction,” Joseph said of the $972,550 player who was bought by Carlos Perez for 40,000 USD from Nice and Easy. Thoroughbred shipment at OBS March 2 years old in sales training program. “Beyer-wise, it’s one of his top characters. Taiba is third in (Longines) Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), Zandon will be popular in Cigars, and Cyberknife is second in competition (Big Ass’ Cup Fans Dirt Mile, G1) It was a very productive race for White Abarrio and helped prepare him well for the Cigars.”

The cigar will be the final race for the 6-year-old who won the 1st Grade Mind Control Prize, owned by breeder Red Oak Stable and Madaket Stables and coached by Todd Pletcher.

Mind Control #1 (Inside) with John Velazquez Riding Hot Rod Charlie #3 and Mike Smith to Win $150,000 Class III Salvator Mile at Monmouth Park Raceway in Oceanport, NJ on Saturday June 18, 2022. Photo by Bill Denver / DEVICE-PHOTO
Photo: Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO

Mind Control fights to the end to win the Salvator Mile at Monmouth Park Raceway

“This will be the ultimate race for Mind Control,” said Rick Sacco, race manager for Red Oak Stable. “We will make an announcement (December 5 or 6) about a stud farm.”

The cigars will be the 29th starter for the long-term and steady $1.7 million earner, who has the rare track record of winning 1st at 2 and 3 and whose stakes are graded at 4, 5 and 6. Winner of two of the five who started this year, he has been refreshed since winning the Parx Dirt Mile Share on September 24th for the second year in a row.

“He likes the Aqueduct and tends to run well, so we’ve been hooked on this race for a while,” Pletcher said of the 122-pound weight class in the Cigars.

The field also includes trainer duo Norman Cash and Lola Cash. Double crowns one Bourbon Courage gelding who was claimed for $40,000 in June and won Kelso Handicap (G2) at the Aqueduct in his last start and Exception (Not this time ) and Gary Barber’s 4-year-old son Get her number (Called in ), who was looking for her first bet win since joining American Pharoah Stakes (G1) at the age of 2.

Item: H. Cigar Miles (G1)

Aqueduct race trackSaturday, December 3, 2022, Race No. 9

  • Grade I
  • 1m
  • dust
  • $750,000
  • 3 years old and up
  • 3:43 pm (local)

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