The Cigar Mile Handicap Grade One
For Three-year-olds and Upwards
At a mile on the dirt
November 26, 2011
Aqueduct Racetrack
Purse of $250.000
Kopites' impressive older male sprinter/miler showed yet again that he still has it when he captured the Cigar Mile GI, his third Graded One victory of his career. He gave the small field a head start before mowing them down in the stretch. The Six-year-old horse won in a fast time of 1:34:24 on a fast track.
The field got off to a moderate start with June Jumper racing to the front with El Che Guevara on the chase and then a half back to Sarahs Zippy about to pass the rail running Cincinnati Kid and then a few more back to the trailer Another Major. They left the chute and entered the back stretch unchanged with June Jumper still on the lead by two lengths doing the first quarter in 23 1/5.
The half went in a timid 46 2/5 with June Jumper still dictating the pace but the runners were now getting comfortable in their strides and they were ready to run. The first to show progression was Another Major moving closer to the field and he was now four lengths from the front. Then the three stalkers began to make their moves. The first was El Che Guevara who began to eat into the two length lead on the turn, but he was not alone as Sarahs Zippy and Cincinnati Kid were also making their moves on the turn.
Still on his power run a charged up Another Major was still closing and he went four wide on the turn and was now a length and a piece from the front. At the top of the stretch June Jumper was the first to turn for home but the sounds of his rivals hooves echoed loudly as his closest rival was now a half length off. As June Jumper stepped off of the rail on the turn Cincinnati Kid made use of the opportunity and he charged on the rail El Che Guevara seemed to have nothing left to challenge and June Jumper was kept on rolling. Cincinnati Kid was full of run on the rail and wasted no time and disposed of June Jumper who began to fade slowly. El Che Guevara was maintaining his momentum and passed the fading June Jumper. With a furlong left to run the jock had a peep between his legs and eased Cincinnati Kid to a two length victory over El Che Guevara, June Jumper held on for third followed by a disappointing run from one of the favorites Sarahs Zippy and rounding the small field was Another Major at the back.
