Horse Race Preview: The Cigar Mile

The Grade 2, $500,000 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct on Saturday, the final graded-stakes race of the year on the New York Racing Association circuit, has drawn a field of 11. This one-turn mile brings together horses that typically compete in sprints and those that often run longer races around two turns.

The field includes five horses with more than $1 million in career earnings, such as Señor Buscador, whose $12.9 million ranks 10th all-time among Thoroughbreds. Additionally, eight graded-stakes winners will compete, with four of them having secured a Grade 1 victory.

Here is a full-field analysis with the official track morning-line odds for the Cigar Mile. It is set as race 9 on a 10-race card, with post time scheduled for 3:35 p.m. EST.

1. Book’em Danno, 4-1. Bucchero – Derek Ryan / Irad Ortiz Jr. – 10: 6-3-1 – $1,018,125. Book’em Danno has never finished worse than third, with six victories, including a Grade 1 win in the Woody Stephens at Saratoga in June. He was second twice over the mile distance in the Saudi Derby (G3) and the Nashua at Aqueduct as a 2-year-old. With a fast pace projected, his late-running style could work well as he faces older horses for the first time.
2. Nelson Avenue, 30-1. Into Mischief – Wayne Potts / Dylan Davis – 14: 5-2-1 – $251,405. Named for the street bordering the track in Saratoga, Nelson Avenue was claimed there in August for $40,000. Since then, he has won twice, including in a second-level allowance. Last month, he set the pace in the Forty Niner (G3) and finished second in a field of eight.
3. Repo Rocks, 30-1. Tapiture – Jamie Ness / Ruben Silvera – 43: 10-9-7 – $978,046. Repo Rocks, a 6-year-old Grade 3 winner, is just $22,000 short of $1 million in earnings. His most recent win was in an allowance at Colonial Downs restricted to Virginia-breds. He finished fourth in the Forty Niner last time out.
4. Vinsanity, 50-1. Tapiture – Antonio Arriaga / Francisco Martinez – 20: 2-2-2 – $74,718. Vinsanity makes his graded-stakes debut in the Cigar Mile. His only victory against winners came in October at Aqueduct in a $25,000 claimer with a N2L condition.
5. Mullikin, 3-1. Violence – Rodolphe Brisset / Flavien Prat – 10: 5-3-1 – $853,612. Mullikin will stretch out to a mile for the first time after finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, where he was the 3-1 favorite. He had won four consecutive races prior, including two seven-furlong victories in the Forego (G1) and the Nerud (G2).
6. Law Professor, 15-1. Constitution – Rob Atras / Kendrick Carmouche – 24: 9-2-3 – $1,070,296. Law Professor won three of his last four starts, with the latest victory coming after a five-month layoff. The 6-year-old gelding won the Mathis Mile (G2) at Santa Anita in 2021 and was third in the 2023 Woodward (G3).
7. Locked, 9-2. Gun Runner – Todd Pletcher / John Velazquez – 5: 3-0-2 – $660,650. Locked won a seven-furlong allowance in his 2024 debut after an 11-month layoff. He was highly regarded as a 2-year-old, winning the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) and finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Trainer Todd Pletcher has six Cigar Mile victories.
8. Pipeline, 20-1. Speightstown – Cherie DeVaux / Junior Alvarado – 19: 4-2-2 – $503,913. Pipeline has not raced since winning a front-end allowance at Churchill Downs, having been scratched from the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. He aims to be part of a contentious early pace but finished ninth in last year’s Cigar Mile.
9. Señor Buscador, 6-1. Mineshaft – Todd Fincher / Joel Rosario – 22: 7-2-3 – $12,941,427. Señor Buscador was second in last year’s Cigar Mile and finished second in the Pegasus World Cup (G1) before winning the Saudi Cup (G1) and placing third in the Dubai World Cup (G1). He has faced tough competition in California since returning to America.
10. Coastal Mission, 12-1. Great Notion – Jeff Runco / Arnaldo Bocachica – 25: 14-5-1 – $1,091,653. Coastal Mission was fifth in last year’s Cigar Mile and enters this year’s race with two stakes wins in a row. He has shown a strong closing move with these victories.
11. Post Time, 7-2. Frosted – Brittany Russell / Sheldon Russell – 14: 9-3-2 – $1,167,910. Post Time began his career with an 8-for-9 record, including a win in the Carter (G2). His 2024 campaign featured high-profile races, with placements in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, Whitney (G1), and Met Mile (G1). He benefits from a fast pace.

Summary: A fast pace is expected, favoring late runners on an Aqueduct track that has been playing fairly. Contenders Book’em Danno, Locked, Señor Buscador, Coastal Mission, and Post Time are among the quality runners poised for a strong closing move. Coastal Mission is a live long shot based on his recent impressive victories and favorable odds. Post Time, with a consistent record and an advantageous outside post position, is the top choice.