Breeders' Cup Champs to Face off in Cigar Mile at Aqueduct

A pair of foes coming off victories in the Breeders’ Cup will square off in Saturday’s $500,000 Cigar Mile Handicap (G1), one of four stakes races on an outstanding betting card at Aqueduct Racetrack in New York. 

The five-year-old mare Groupie Doll is coming off a victory in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) at Santa Anita on Nov. 2, and takes on the boys as the 3-1 morning line favorite.

The mare won the Filly & Mare Sprint last year, and then just missed beating the boys in last year’s edition of the Cigar Mile, beaten just a nose by Stay Thirsty.

The Doug O’Neill trained Goldencents is coming off a gate-to-wire score in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) and is the 7-2 second choice on the morning line. The colt has won three of his nine starts this year and since running 17^th in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and fifth in the Preakness Stakes (G1), the colt has landed in the exacta in four straight starts.

The Cigar Mile drew a field of 11 and features four other Grade 1 winners in Capo Bastone (20-1), Flat Out (6-1), Verrazano (8-1) and Private Zone (15-1).

The supporting stakes on the card are the $400,000 Demoiselle (G2) for two-year-old fillies, $400,000 Comely (G3) for three-year-old fillies and the $400,000 Remsen (G2) for juveniles.

Here are the selections for the Cigar Mile:

Win: Verrazano

Verrazano is going to be a decent price in this spot as he was not much of a threat to Goldencents in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1), checking in fourth and beaten seven-and-three-quarter lengths.

Do not forget the racing strip was kind to speed that day and this guy was caught in tight quarters heading into the first turn, came with a five wide rally and made a mild late bid when angled down toward the inside for the stretch drive. The colt ran huge winning the Haskell Invitational (G1) three back earning a 116 Beyer.

The runner-up in that race was Power Broker, who came back to win the Indiana Derby (G2) at Hawthorne in his next outing on Oct. 5 with a 99 Beyer.

Coming out of the Haskell the Todd Pletcher trainee may have bounced in the Travers (G1), and he appears to want nothing to do with 1 1/4 miles. The colt looks capable of bouncing back here and he won the Wood Memorial (G1) over the Big A main track back in April. Pletcher has won this race four times.

Place: Groupie Doll

Groupie Doll takes on the boys again for the second year in a row, last year getting beaten just a nose in this race to Pletcher's Stay Thirsty in a solid effort.

She ran big last out winning the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) and this will be just her fifth start of the year. She went through the sales ring shortly after her last win, bringing $3.1 million, and her new owner decided to let her race one more time. The one-turn mile suits her.

Show: Flat Out

Flat Out came up short in the stretch last out in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), checking in eighth.

The Bill Mott trainee has only won three of his last 16 starts, but is usually right in the mix and is a multiple Grade 1 winner. His career top-speed figure came in the Westchester (G3) back in April at Belmont Park which was a one-turn mile. He fits with his best and may end up getting overlooked on the tote.

Fourth: Goldencents

Goldencents went gate-to-wire to win the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) but did take full advantage of a racing strip that was playing to speed that day.

Two back he made a good late rally to finish in the runner-up spot in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G1), beaten a half-length for the top spot. Except for his trips on the Triple Crown trail, this guy has been right in the mix every time out. The one-turn mile should suit this guy, but his price may end up on the light side.

Morning line odds and stats: DRF Formulator

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