Cigar Mile closes out graded stakes schedule at Aqueduct

New York Hot List | Friday, December 3, 2021

New Year’s Eve may be four weeks away but it will be appropriate to sing “Auld Lang Syne” at Aqueduct Saturday afternoon. The final four graded stakes of the year will be contested at the Big A on Saturday, capped by the Grade 1 Cigar Mile. The $750,000 stakes attracted a field of eight that features a nice mix of talent that includes California’s Ginobili, the rumbunctious Independence Hall, the multiple Grade 1-winning Code of Honor, and the Todd Pletcher-trained duo of Following Sea and Americanrevolution. It may not be the best Grade 1 field of the year, but it’s not a bad sendoff until 2022.

Here’s the Hot List picks for the Cigar Mile Handicap:

The $750,000 Cigar Mile (G1), Aqueduct, Saturday, Race 10

(1) Following Sea found his niche since cutting back in distance from the nine-furlong Haskell (G1). Most recently the Todd Pletcher runner was third in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) after having to steady down the stretch. Regular rider John Velazquez felt that his horse had a big chance to win the race had he not lost momentum. The one-turn mile may be ideal for Following Sea. (3) Americanrevolution is also from the Pletcher barn and he dominated NY-bred competition with four easy wins. It was his third in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) against top 3-year-olds that gives this son of Constitution a legitimate chance to rally down the stretch with the right pace set-up. (5) Independence Hall earned his best speed figure when he took the Fayette (G2) at Keeneland on the front end which gives him the ability to stay close to the pace in this spot. He has a 2 for 2 record earlier in his career at Aqueduct and in the one-turn mile format. (6) Ginobili will ship from Del Mar to New York for the first time after running second in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1). Since getting blinkers on, he won an allowance and then the Pat O’Brien (G2) also at Del Mar.

The rest of the NY Hot List picks and the Special Saturday Pick 3 are available free of charge at this website.