NEW YORK, NY – The Grade 2 Cigar Mile Handicap, Aqueduct’s final graded stakes of the season, caps off the New York Racing Association circuit with a star-studded field of 11 seasoned runners, vying over a one-turn mile for a $500,000 purse. The race unites elite sprinters with formidable route specialists in a showdown that has become a winter tradition.
Race Overview
- Race: Cigar Mile Handicap (G2)
- Surface: Dirt
- Distance: 1 mile (one turn)
- Purse: $500,000
- Race No.: 9 of 10
- Post Time: 3:35 PM EST
Full Field Analysis & Morning-Line Odds
| Horse | Sire | Trainer | Jockey | Record | Earnings | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Book’em Danno | Bucchero | Derek Ryan | Irad Ortiz Jr. | 10: 6-3-1 | $1,018,125 | 4-1 |
| Nelson Avenue | Into Mischief | Wayne Potts | Dylan Davis | 14: 5-2-1 | $251,405 | 30-1 |
| Repo Rocks | Tapiture | Jamie Ness | Ruben Silvera | 43: 10-9-7 | $978,046 | 30-1 |
| Vinsanity | Tapiture | Antonio Arriaga | Francisco Martinez | 20: 2-2-2 | $74,718 | 50-1 |
| Mullikin | Violence | Rodolphe Brisset | Flavien Prat | 10: 5-3-1 | $853,612 | 3-1 |
| Law Professor | Constitution | Rob Atras | Kendrick Carmouche | 24: 9-2-3 | $1,070,296 | 15-1 |
| Locked | Gun Runner | Todd Pletcher | John Velazquez | 5: 3-0-2 | $660,650 | 9-2 |
| Pipeline | Speightstown | Cherie DeVaux | Junior Alvarado | 19: 4-2-2 | $503,913 | 20-1 |
| Señor Buscador | Mineshaft | Todd Fincher | Joel Rosario | 22: 7-2-3 | $12,941,427 | 6-1 |
| Coastal Mission | Great Notion | Jeff Runco | Arnaldo Bocachica | 25: 14-5-1 | $1,091,653 | 12-1 |
| Post Time | Frosted | Brittany Russell | Sheldon Russell | 14: 9-3-2 | $1,167,910 | 7-2 |
Featured Storylines & Betting Insights
- Mullikin stretches out after a gritty third in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. With wins in the Forego (G1) and Nerud (G2), he’s the morning-line favorite for good reason.
- Post Time emerges as a top choice with solid form, high-profile stakes experience, and a favorable outside draw—ideal for launching a late bid.
- Coastal Mission rides a two-race win streak and looms as a dangerous long shot with proven closing power.
- Book’em Danno is remarkably consistent and has a Grade 1 victory under his belt, but will face older horses for the first time.
- Señor Buscador, a veteran of the international circuit, is the race’s richest entrant and nearly won this event last year. His late kick will be lethal in a fast-paced setup.
Pace Projection & Strategic Analysis
A hot early pace is expected, with Pipeline, Nelson Avenue, and Mullikin vying for control. That sets the table perfectly for Book’em Danno, Locked, Coastal Mission, and Post Time to deliver late-race surges.
