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Aqueduct Racetrack has four graded stakes on Saturday’s race card highlighting the Grade 1 Cigar Mile. Handicap. This race on dirt is open to Thoroughbreds three and older and the prize purse is $750,000.
The Grade 3 Go for Wand Handicap at Aqueduct is open to fillies and mares three and up. The one mile race on dirt has a $200,000 prize purse. Battle Bling is a favorite with her 5.67 Horse Racing Nation rating. Flight To Shanghai and Dr B are legitimate contenders in the probable field.
Aqueduct’s juvenile fillies will run in the Grade 2 Demoiselle Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on dirt this Saturday. The prize purse is $250,000 and Julia Shining is one of the favorites. She has Todd Pletcher as trainer coming off a win in a Maiden Special Weight race at Keeneland on Oct. 16.
The two-year old colts at Aqueduct will compete in the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes with a $250,000 prize purse. Covering 1 1/8 miles on dirt, the probable field includes Arctic Arrogance, Quick to Accuse and Prove Right as a trio of favorites.
2022 Cigar Mile Handicap Predictions
When: Saturday, December 3rd 2022
Where: Aqueduct Racetrack
The Cigar Mile features Zandon and White Abarrio at the top of the list in HRN ratings. Mind Control and O Besos are legitimate contenders in the probable field. Here is my trifecta for the Win, Place and Show positions.
Win: Zandon
The Kentucky-bred three-year colt has Chad Brown as trainer and he races for Jeff Drown. Zandon placed second in the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby at Philadelphia Park on Sept. 24. He also finished third in the Grade 1 Travers Stakes on Aug. 27 at Saratoga Race Course.
As son of Upstart, he has raced on dirt covering one mile plus in his competitive events from Aqueduct to Churchill Downs. On a return trip to Queens, New York, Zandon wins this time around at Aqueduct.
Place: White Abarrio
White Abarrio is another three-year colt that was bred in Kentucky and he races for Clap Embroidery. Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., he won his first two races this season, including the Grade 1 Florida Derby. White Abarrio finished seventh in the Grade 1 Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park and fifth in the Pennsylvania Derby to close out his summer and fall campaign.
Sired by Race Day, he is mounting a grand return at Aqueduct to race in the Cigar Mile and should finish in the money by taking second place. White Abarrio is too good to finish fourth or worse in this probable field.
Show: Mind Control
This six-year old horse has a long history for competing at New York race tracks, including Aqueduct. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Mind Control finished third in the Grade 1 Carter Handicap at Aqueduct this spring. More a sprinter, he was third at Charles Town in the Classic on Aug. 8 and first at Philadelphia Park in the Dirt Mile on Sept. 24.
Mind Control is a son of Stay Thirsty and he has ties to AP Indy and Storm Bird. Racing the Cigar Mile at Aqueduct, he is set to take third in my book.
