Private Zone wins the 2014 Cigar Mile
Private Zone wins the 2014 Cigar Mile
November 30, 2014
The Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend closes out the New York Grade 1 stakes schedule. The highlight race of the afternoon is the $753,750 Cigar Mile Handicap (G1), a 1 mile trip around 1 turn at Aqueduct for older horses. Conditions were typical for late November, with overcast skies and temperatures in the mid 30's. 2013 Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) winner Secret Circle was sent off as the 5-2 favorite in the field of 9 off his close second in this year's renewal.
In to challenge him included 7-2 second choice Itsmyluckyday, winner of the Woodward (G1) but third in the Kelso Handicap (G2), and 4-1 third choice Vyjack, winner of the Kelso.
Jockey Martin Pedroza sent 9-2 fourth choice Private Zone to the lead exiting the chute and he set fractions of 22.18, 44.18, and 1:08.34 over the fast track while as many as 2 lengths in front of Secret Circle and 13-1 Regally Ready stalking him second and third. Entering the stretch, Private Zone pulled away from the rest of the field finishing up 5 lengths in front of Secret Circle in 1:34.39. It was just a neck back to late-running 6-1 Bourbon Courage third.
Results chart
Also on the card were Remsen Stakes and the Demoiselle Stakes for the 2-year-olds.
Private Zone in the winner's circle
Winning trainer Alfredo Velazquez said, "That was the way I was expecting him to run because he was training super. I worked him here the other day, and it was the slowest track I have ever seen, and he worked 1:01 4/5. The fractions didn't bother me because he was doing it easy. When I saw :44 I said, 'They're going to have to come and get him.' The break was very important because of the track. Everything inside today was running."
Private Zone heads out for the post parade
Winning jockey Martin Pedroza said, "Unbelievable performance, I was expecting him to run good but not that good. I was able to get all the speed at once at the break. It was cold, I actually only jogged this horse and even in the Breeders' Cup I only jogged him. Today, I wanted him to run warm because it's cold. It was cold for the horse, it was cold for jockeys."
Second place finisher Secret Circle
Jockey Joel Rosario said, "He ran great. When I came out of the gate, he kind of stumbled a little bit. But he recovered really quickly; he does everything so easily. I can't believe the horse on the lead just kept on going. I was trying to track him and stay with him, but he was in command the whole way."
Third place finisher Bourbon Courage
6-1 shot Bourbon Courage sat 6 lengths off the pace in 5th early under Jose Lezcano then passed tired horses to get third beaten 5 1/4 lengths. The Kellyn Gorder trainee improved his record to 4 wins, 5 seconds, and 6 thirds in 21 starts, earning $1,115,877 for owner Bourbon Lane Stable.
Snowbell wins the 2014 Comely Stakes
Kicking off the Saturday stakes quartet, a field of 8 three-year-old fillies (6 betting interests) went to post in the $400,000 Comely Stakes (G3) at 1 1/8 miles on the main track. The three-horse entry of Indiana Oaks (G2) third place finisher Penwith, allowance winner Snowbell, and Tempted (G3) runner-up Divided Attention was sent off as the 9-5 favorite. In to challenge them incuded 2-1 second choice Dame Dorothy, winner of the Turnback the Alarm Handicap, and 3-1 third choice Catch My Drift, 7th in the Alabama (G1) and second in the Turnback the Alarm.
Jockey Luis Saez sent Snowbell to the lead and she set slow fractions of 25.02, 50.97, and 1:16.22 while stalked by Dame Dorothy amd 30-1 longest shot Shayjolie. Entering the stretch, Snowbell drew away from the field through 1 mile in 1:40.37, and cruised to a 2 1/4 length win over Shayjolie in 1:52.59. It was a neck back to Dame Dorothy third.
Results chart
Snowbell in the winner's circle
Jimmy Bell, racing manager for winning owner Godolphin Racing said, "We were hopeful that we would be able to get the lead, just judging from the track it seemed like a good place to be - on the front end. She's a filly that has obviously shown that she has that front-running speed, which is always dangerous. The fractions were kind and every step was a good step."
Winning jockey Luis Saez said, "I know she likes the front, and the only other speed was part of the entry.
I took the lead, and waited to see what would happen. At the half-mile, I knew I still had a lot of horse, and when I asked her in the stretch, she came on very well. That was good."
30-1 longest shot Shayjolie stalked the pace in third 3 lengths off under Jose Ortiz then put in a mild rally to get second beaten 2 1/4 lengths. The Gary Contessa trainee improved her record to 2 wins, 4 seconds, and 0 thirds in 8 starts, earning $236,943 for owner Sean Shay.
2-1 second choice Dame Dorothy presseded the pace in second under Javier Castellano but was headed for place money in the final yards. The Todd Pletcher trainee improved her record to 4 wins and 1 third in 5 starts, earning $271,900 for owner Bobby Flay.
November 30, 2014
The Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend closes out the New York Grade 1 stakes schedule. The highlight race of the afternoon is the $753,750 Cigar Mile Handicap (G1), a 1 mile trip around 1 turn at Aqueduct for older horses. Conditions were typical for late November, with overcast skies and temperatures in the mid 30's. 2013 Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) winner Secret Circle was sent off as the 5-2 favorite in the field of 9 off his close second in this year's renewal.
In to challenge him included 7-2 second choice Itsmyluckyday, winner of the Woodward (G1) but third in the Kelso Handicap (G2), and 4-1 third choice Vyjack, winner of the Kelso.
Jockey Martin Pedroza sent 9-2 fourth choice Private Zone to the lead exiting the chute and he set fractions of 22.18, 44.18, and 1:08.34 over the fast track while as many as 2 lengths in front of Secret Circle and 13-1 Regally Ready stalking him second and third. Entering the stretch, Private Zone pulled away from the rest of the field finishing up 5 lengths in front of Secret Circle in 1:34.39. It was just a neck back to late-running 6-1 Bourbon Courage third.
Results chart
Also on the card were Remsen Stakes and the Demoiselle Stakes for the 2-year-olds.
Private Zone in the winner's circle
Winning trainer Alfredo Velazquez said, "That was the way I was expecting him to run because he was training super. I worked him here the other day, and it was the slowest track I have ever seen, and he worked 1:01 4/5. The fractions didn't bother me because he was doing it easy. When I saw :44 I said, 'They're going to have to come and get him.' The break was very important because of the track. Everything inside today was running."
Private Zone heads out for the post parade
Winning jockey Martin Pedroza said, "Unbelievable performance, I was expecting him to run good but not that good. I was able to get all the speed at once at the break. It was cold, I actually only jogged this horse and even in the Breeders' Cup I only jogged him. Today, I wanted him to run warm because it's cold. It was cold for the horse, it was cold for jockeys."
Second place finisher Secret Circle
Jockey Joel Rosario said, "He ran great. When I came out of the gate, he kind of stumbled a little bit. But he recovered really quickly; he does everything so easily. I can't believe the horse on the lead just kept on going. I was trying to track him and stay with him, but he was in command the whole way."
Third place finisher Bourbon Courage
6-1 shot Bourbon Courage sat 6 lengths off the pace in 5th early under Jose Lezcano then passed tired horses to get third beaten 5 1/4 lengths. The Kellyn Gorder trainee improved his record to 4 wins, 5 seconds, and 6 thirds in 21 starts, earning $1,115,877 for owner Bourbon Lane Stable.
Snowbell wins the 2014 Comely Stakes
Kicking off the Saturday stakes quartet, a field of 8 three-year-old fillies (6 betting interests) went to post in the $400,000 Comely Stakes (G3) at 1 1/8 miles on the main track. The three-horse entry of Indiana Oaks (G2) third place finisher Penwith, allowance winner Snowbell, and Tempted (G3) runner-up Divided Attention was sent off as the 9-5 favorite. In to challenge them incuded 2-1 second choice Dame Dorothy, winner of the Turnback the Alarm Handicap, and 3-1 third choice Catch My Drift, 7th in the Alabama (G1) and second in the Turnback the Alarm.
Jockey Luis Saez sent Snowbell to the lead and she set slow fractions of 25.02, 50.97, and 1:16.22 while stalked by Dame Dorothy amd 30-1 longest shot Shayjolie. Entering the stretch, Snowbell drew away from the field through 1 mile in 1:40.37, and cruised to a 2 1/4 length win over Shayjolie in 1:52.59. It was a neck back to Dame Dorothy third.
Results chart
Snowbell in the winner's circle
Jimmy Bell, racing manager for winning owner Godolphin Racing said, "We were hopeful that we would be able to get the lead, just judging from the track it seemed like a good place to be - on the front end. She's a filly that has obviously shown that she has that front-running speed, which is always dangerous. The fractions were kind and every step was a good step."
Winning jockey Luis Saez said, "I know she likes the front, and the only other speed was part of the entry.
I took the lead, and waited to see what would happen. At the half-mile, I knew I still had a lot of horse, and when I asked her in the stretch, she came on very well. That was good."
30-1 longest shot Shayjolie stalked the pace in third 3 lengths off under Jose Ortiz then put in a mild rally to get second beaten 2 1/4 lengths. The Gary Contessa trainee improved her record to 2 wins, 4 seconds, and 0 thirds in 8 starts, earning $236,943 for owner Sean Shay.
2-1 second choice Dame Dorothy presseded the pace in second under Javier Castellano but was headed for place money in the final yards. The Todd Pletcher trainee improved her record to 4 wins and 1 third in 5 starts, earning $271,900 for owner Bobby Flay.
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