Cigar Mile a Bit on the Weak Side for a Grade 1

By Profitus Maximus
November 29, 2008

Saturday’s running of the Cigar Mile at Aqueduct Racetrack looks to be one of the weaker editions. When you compare the winner Tale of Ekati’s performance to horses in the past such as

Discreet Cat,

,

Congaree,

and Left Bank who have won this race, this past running looked a bit more like a Grade 2 or maybe even a Grade 3.

The fact that only one length separated the top four finishers, Tale of Ekati, Harlem Rocker, Bribon, and Arson Squad, and only 3 lengths covering the top six finishers indicate to me that this was not a particularly strong Cigar Mile.

I firmly believe that Monterey Jazz is a better horse than these top finishers, with the possible exception of Bribon (who did check hard at the quarter pole, and might’ve won had he had an extra few seconds as he was closing very fast on the top two).

The final time of 135.01 was solid but not spectacular on a track that was playing slow, and although I don’t have access to Tale of Ekati’s Beyer Speed Figure, the winner’s assigned figure is not listed on the leader board at the Daily Racing Form, which indicates that the number was less than 109. Based on the past performances of the top four finishers, I would estimate the Beyer Tale of Ekati was assigned was probably pretty close to 105 give or take a couple points.

Monterey Jazz did set a wicked pace for a track that clearly was playing on the slow side. The 109.42 in which he passed the six furlong mark might be like 109 flat on a normal day, but still, the real Monterey Jazz would’ve held on a little better. It is possible he just didn’t care for the Aqueduct racetrack surface or more likely, it just wasn’t his day. It would be a shame if the retired him, because he is a genuine Grade 1 animal who hasn’t yet gotten his Grade 1 victory.