Cigar Mile Day Results
- Updated: December 5, 2017
Remsen
Well, Catholic Boy took to the dirt after all and has already demonstrated his prowess on grass so this opens up a lot of options for him but you can bet connections will stick with races on dirt and the Kentucky Derby preps until he proves he doesn’t belong in the Kentucky Derby. He won this one with ease and secured a perfect trip.
A Super Screener “A” horse, Avery Island, continues to improve and you can expect a continuation in his positive form cycle as he will also proceed onto other Kentucky Derby prep races.
The Super Screener top win pick, Alkhaatam, was just too far back in a race contested with a modest pace. He may be a pace dependent type so we’ll need to keep that in mind in his subsequent races.
Uncharacteristically, the Super Screener Top Long Shot picks did squat finishing in the back half of the field.
A Super Screener Exacta paid $205.
Cigar Mile
Sharp Azteca finally got his G1 win and just dusted this field as the odds-on favorite. Mind Your Biscuits ran his characteristic mid-pack race and then ran on to clearly capture 2nd so the added ground wasn’t a problem for him. Super Screener Top Win Pick Practical Joke wound up at the rear of the field in the early stages and ran on with mild interest in the final race of his career.
Seymourdini insisted on grabbing the lead but was difficult to manage and used a lot of energy early ending up in the back of the field.
Claiming Crown Rapid Transit Stakes
The Super Screener tabbed the odds-on favorite, Shaft of Light, as a Vulnerable Favorite and as the odds-on favorite he finished in the back of the field. The Super Screener Top Value play stayed off the hot pace and then barreled down the stretch for the win. He ended up going off at 9-2 versus morning line odds of 12-1 so in the end he didn’t offer much value.
Super Screener Top Long Shot pick, Crocodile Charlie, finished 3rd but also at thinner odds than anticipated.
Claiming Crown Jewel
The Super Screener criteria for races run at 1 1/8 miles with the extremely short run to the first turn are penalized pretty heavily so of course the two horses stuck in the 13 and 12 holes came in 1-2. That has prompted a calibration to that critieria especially when the track favors speed and one can use up energy early and still have enough for the final furlong. And, those that ran against much tougher recently, Diamond Bachelor and Turco Bravo, completed the Superfecta.
Well, we’ll move past this one and look forward to next weekend as it features the G1 CashCall Futurity for 2 year olds which is considered by some as a pre-qualifier for So Cal. Derby prep races starting next month. There’s also a bunch of assorted minor stakes to chose from across the nation. Should be a great weekend for the horseplayer.
Until next weekend, “Go Fast and Win”
Mike