Top Level Starpower Shines In Grade I-Quality Cigar Mile On Saturday

[Wandering Eyes]

The Saturday graded stakes action across North America offers several options, but the Big A earns the spotlight as the venerable NYRA track plays host to some strong races.

Even though the Cigar Mile Handicap was downgraded a tick from its top level status by the American Graded Stakes Committee in 2023, connections still consider the race to possess a certain cache and the rigor in this year's edition is evident.

“It [Cigar Mile] came up pretty salty,” said Book'em Danno's trainer Derek Ryan. “It is a Grade II now and used to be a Grade I, but it is tougher now than when it was a Grade I. Over the years, you always get good horses coming into it. This is his [Book'em Danno] first time going against older horses, but we are dropping a little weight, so that's got to help.”

Speaking of the 3-year-old gelding who will carry 120 pounds for Atlantic Six Racing, Book'em Danno (Bucchero) will break from the inside gate with multiple Eclipse winning rider Irad Ortiz aboard. It has been a statement year for the dark bay who just missed in the G3 Saudi Derby back in February, then won the GI Woody Stephens Stakes on the Belmont Stakes undercard at Saratoga. Book'em Danno was last seen as the close runner-up in the GIII Perryville Stakes at Keeneland Oct. 19.

Senor Buscador (outside) wins the Saudi Cup | Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia

A fellow shipper to the Middle East who won the signature event on the card that evening when he rolled late to scoop up the G1 Saudi Cup, if Senor Buscador (Mineshaft) can stay in the mix up the backstretch the well-known closer could be a win candidate. The Todd Fincher trainee, who awaits the pending call for stud duty from owner Joey Peacock, was fifth in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar last month.

“Our path for [Senor] Buscador last year from Breeders Cup to Cigar Mile to Pegasus World Cup worked so well that it has been in the back of our minds depending, of course, on how the horse was performing and training,” said Peacock, when he was reached by phone. “The post-Middle East plan was to rest Buscador and then target Breeders Cup.

“We had some minor setbacks prepping him for Del Mar this year, including a disappointing performance in the California Crown, but his run in the Classic was credible and he earned a 103 Beyer for his effort,” the owner said. “That, plus the way he has trained since, gives us the confidence to fly him to New York and try the Cigar Mile again. Plus, it sets him up well to take another shot at the Pegasus World Cup, if all goes well.”

Adding some tang to this Cigar field is Mullikin (Violence), who trainer Rodolphe Brisset had primed when he won the GI Forego Stakes at the Spa last summer–the conditioner's first Grade I score. Without a one-turn mile available at the Breeder's Cup, Brisset opted for the GI Cygames Breeders' Cup Sprint, where the 4-year-old rallied for third. Going a touch longer, despite carrying a top weight of 124 pounds, should be something Mullikin wants to do.

Also signed on, when compared to the rest of this bunch, is the lightly-raced GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity hero Locked (Gun Runner). The juvenile colt showed plenty of poise second out when he broke his maiden by 7 1/4 lengths at the Spa, which earned him a 'TDN Rising Star' badge. Making his 3-year-old debut for Todd Pletcher, Locked lived up to his short price of 40 cents on the dollar when he won by 7 1/2 lengths facing optional claimers during the Belmont At The Big A meet Oct. 19.

Though he does not currently have a Grade I trophy in his case, Post Time (Frosted) boasts a solid graded resume, which is why he will be carrying the same weight as Mullikin. Trained by Brittany Russell, the 4-year-old Maryland-bred acquitted himself well as the runner-up last time out in the GI Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Mile at Del Mar.

The Aqueduct graded undercard holds its own as the GII Remsen Stakes and GII Demoiselle Stakes offer points on the Road to the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Kentucky Oaks, respectively. Lest we forget, the 2023 Remsen produced major talent in winner Dornoch (Good Magic), runner-up Sierra Leone (Gun Runner), Copper Tax (Copper Bullet) and newly-minted sire Domestic Product (Practical Joke).

Keewaydin | Susie Raisher

Out of the boys assembled this year, look for morning-line favorite Keewaydin (Instagrand) to take money. In his second attempt to break his maiden, the Chad Brown trainee posted a 91 Beyer after getting his picture taken at the Big A Oct. 12.

The previous weekend at Churchill Downs was a blockbuster one for 2-year-old Godolphin homebreds. They will try to do it again with Poster (Munnings), who will be making his first start on dirt for trainer Eoin Harty.

As for the fillies in the Demoiselle, trainer Brad Cox has another budding stable star ready for action in Muhimma (Munnings). The gray is perfect after two starts and sparkled against optional claimers under the Twin Spires Nov. 1.

Finally, the GIII Go for Wand Stakes pits from Brown's shedrow MGISP Occult (Into Mischief) and GSW Shidabhuti (Practical Joke) against the runner-up from last year's race in Todd Pletcher trainee Tizzy in the Sky (Sky Kingdom).

On Saturday, the opportunities to collect Oaks points include the renewal of the GII Starlet Stakes at Los Alamitos Race Course. As expected, trainer Bob Baffert holds the edge with a trio of entries. Among them, Nooni (Win Win Win) was a named 'TDN Rising Star' after she made her debut a winning one at Santa Anita over the summer, while Tenma (Nyquist) captured the GI Del Mar Debutante Stakes in early September. Look Forward (Bolt d'Oro) was trained by Ben Cecil, who sadly passed away recently. Cecil's one-time protégé Michael McCarthy will be the bay filly's new conditioner.

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