A Farewell Cigar This Saturday’s edition of the Cigar Mile (G2) will mark the last time the $500,000 contest is held at Aqueduct Racetrack, as winter racing will move next year to the recently revamped Belmont Park. In the final edition at its home track, the Cigar Mile drew a field of seven, headlined by the trio of Phileas Fogg (9-5 choice), Bishops Bay (2-1), and Crazy Mason (7-2). Phileas Fogg, a Grade 2 winner (Suburban) with a 9-5-0 record from 20 starts, presents the greatest challenge to any Cigar hopeful, according to the morning line. Bishops Bay, behind the strength of an 8-3-0 line through 12 starts, is no slouch either, boasting three graded stakes badges (Grade 3 Westchester, Salvator Mile, and Forty Niner). Crazy Mason, the reigning Carter (G2) champion with a nose for the money (17: 5-3-4), is equally capable of lighting a victory stogie. Moving Out Joining the Cigar Mile on the way out of Aqueduct is the $250,000 Remsen (G2), which will also bid farewell to the South Ozone Park oval on Saturday. Chasing the top spot in the 1 1/8-mile is a deep cast of a dozen 2-year-olds, including last month’s $500,000 Champagne (G1) runner-up, Talkin. While not exactly a pulse-pounding resolution last time out, the freshman son of Good Magic– Rote has flashed immense potential through two starts for trainer Danny Gargan. In the Remsen, however, awaits maiden winner Paladin, who fetched a $1.9 million price tag at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale. Trained by Chad Brown, Paladin was elevated to first in his professional debut after Renegade was disqualified. It is Paladin, at 3-1, holding the early advantage over Talkin, who follows at 5-1. Top of the Class Between Hammerhead, Zabo, and Jokestar, Kevin Attard has three hopefuls hoping to graduate to ‘Graded Stakes Winner’ status in Saturday’s $150,000 Valedictory (G3) at Woodbine. Each member of the Attard-trained trio finds themselves at different points in their racing careers ahead of the 1 ½-mile main track test for 3-year-olds and up. Hammerhead (6-1) has competed in three graded stakes, with the War Front bay’s best finish being a fifth in the Jockey Club Derby Invitational (G2) at Aqueduct on Oct. 4. Zabo (20-1), victorious in two of his last three starts, will be contesting his first stakes, graded or otherwise. The son of Justify–Pauseforthecause owns a 7: 2-0-1 line for owners Lanni Bloodstock and Lou Donato. Jokestar (3-1), the elder of the group at 4-years-old, has come the closest to experiencing graded glory, producing a runner-up effort in the Autumn (G3) on Nov. 8. Bred and owned by Al and Bill Ulwelling, Jokestar sports a 4-2-3 line from 17 starts. Baffert or the Field? Of the six freshman fillies entered in Saturday’s $200,000 Starlet (G2) at Los Alamitos, half are conditioned by Bob Baffert, who is seeking his ninth straight victory in the 1 1/16-mile contest. The veteran trainer’s rookie roster consists of Sorrento (G3) champion and winner of three of six starts, Himika (5-2), and maiden winners Nimah (6-5 choice) and Consequent (3-1). Standing between Baffert and yet another Starlet title is a pair of Doug O’Neill charges in Cashed (8-1) and Cosmic Heat (8-1), as well as Bee Jersey filly Jewlz (20-1), trained by Peter Miller. Bred and owned by Reddam Racing, Cashed sports a 1-3-1 line from five starts, most recently producing a second in the Golden State Juvenile Fillies Stakes. Cosmic Heat delivered a third in the Desi Arnaz Stakes last time out, while Jewlz recently tracked down win number one in what was her fifth career start. Tuned In Fresh off a triumphant outing in the Grade 2 Mother Goose, Fully Subscribed turns her attention to the $200,000 Comely (G3), Sunday at Aqueduct. After getting her feet wet with a four-length score in her pro debut last October, Fully Subscribed has put together an impressive sophomore campaign for owner Klaravich Stables. The chestnut daughter of Tiz The Law–Sweetbaby led off her second professional season with a third on Sept. 1 before climbing to a runner-up result 27 days later. Fully Subscribed then achieved her breakthrough moment in the Mother Goose on Nov. 8, also at Aqueduct, in a commanding 4 ½-length decision. Bred in Kentucky by Payson Stud, Fully Subscribed has delivered a 2-1-1 line with $245,300 in prizes across four starts. Matthew Lomon, for Woodbine Share This:Share
