Cigar Mile Handicap

Last updated
Cigar Mile Handicap
Grade II race
Location Aqueduct Racetrack
Queens, New York, United States
Inaugurated1988 (as NYRA Mile Handicap)
Race type Thoroughbred – Flat racing
Sponsor NYRA Bets (2021)
Website NYRA
Race information
Distance1 mile (8 furlongs)
SurfaceDirt
Trackleft-handed
QualificationThree years old and older
WeightAssigned
Purse$500,000 (since 2023)

The Cigar Mile Handicap is a Grade II American thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three-years-old and older over a distance of one mile and is held in late November or early December at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. The event carries a purse of $500,000.

Contents

History

The inaugural running of the event, then known as the NYRA Mile Handicap or simply the NYRA Mile, was won in 1988 by three-year-old Forty Niner, who would later become an influential sire. [1] The race was eligible for graded stakes classification in 1990 and was awarded Grade I status by the American Graded Stakes Committee. [2]

The 1994 NYRA Mile was the second race in the 16-race win streak of Cigar, who won by seven lengths. [2] The event was renamed in 1997 following Cigar's retirement to the Cigar Mile Handicap. [3] Horses who have won the Cigar Mile on their way to championship honors include 2006 winner Discreet Cat (named one of the year's champion three-year-olds in the World's Best Racehorse Rankings), 2009 winner Kodiak Kowboy (winner of that year's Eclipse Award for Champion Sprinter), and 2019 victor Maximum Security (that year's Eclipse winner for Best Three-Year-Old Male).

In 2023 the event was downgraded by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to Grade II status. [4]

Records

Speed record:

Margins:

Most wins:

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Most wins by an owner:

Winners

YearWinnerAgeJockeyTrainerOwnerDistanceTimePurseGradeRef
Cigar Mile Handicap
2023Hoist The Gold4 John R. Velazquez Dallas Stewart Dream Team One Racing Stable1 mile1:34.28$500,000II [5]
2022Mind Control6 John R. Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher Red Oak Stable & Madaket Stables1 mile1:35.53$750,000I [6]
2021Americanrevolution3 Luis Saez Todd A. Pletcher WinStar Farm & China Horse Club 1 mile1:36.68$750,000I [7]
2020True Timber6Kendrick CarmoucheJack Sisterson Calumet Farm 1 mile1:36.49$250,000I [8]
2019 Maximum Security 3 Luis Saez Jason Servis Mary & Gary West 1 mile1:36.46$750,000I [9]
2018Patternrecognition5 Jose L. Ortiz Chad C. Brown Klaravich Stables & William H. Lawrence1 mile1:34.98$784,125I [10]
2017Sharp Azteca4 Javier Castellano Jorge NavarroIvan Rodriguez1 mile1:35.17$750,000I [11]
2016 Connect 3 Javier Castellano Chad C. Brown Paul P. Pompa Jr.1 mile1:35.34$500,000I [12]
2015 Tonalist 4 John R. Velazquez Christophe Clement Robert S. Evans1 mile1:37.14$670,000I [13]
2014Private Zone5 Martin A. Pedroza Alfredo VelazquezGood Friends Stable1 mile1:34.39$753,750I [14]
2013 Flat Out 7 Junior Alvarado William I. Mott Preston Stables1 mile1:34.68$753,000I [15]
2012 Stay Thirsty 4 Ramon A. Dominguez Todd A. Pletcher Repole Stable 1 mile1:35.47$343,000I [16]
2011To Honor and Serve3 Jose Lezcano William I. Mott Live Oak Racing1 mile1:33.89$250,000I [17]
2010Jersey Town4 Cornelio Velasquez Barclay Tagg Charles E. Fipke 1 mile1:34.43$250,000I [18]
2009 Kodiak Kowboy 4 Shaun Bridgmohan Steven M. Asmussen Fox Hill Farm & Vinery Stables1 mile1:35.57$300,000I [19]
2008†Tale of Ekati 3 Edgar S. Prado Barclay Tagg Charles E. Fipke 1 mile1:35.01$300,000I [20]
2007Daaher3 Michael J. Luzzi Kiaran P. McLaughlin Shadwell Racing 1 mile1:33.79$294,000I [21]
2006 Discreet Cat 3 Garrett K. Gomez Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin Racing 1 mile1:32.46$294,000I [22]
2005Purge4 Garrett K. Gomez Todd A. Pletcher Starlight Racing1 mile1:34.26$350,000I [23]
2004Lion Tamer4 Jose A. Santos Todd A. Pletcher Michael B. Tabor 1 mile1:33.46$350,000I [24]
2003 Congaree 5 Jerry D. Bailey Bob Baffert Stonerside Stable 1 mile1:34.30$350,000I [25]
2002 Congaree 4 Jerry D. Bailey Bob Baffert Stonerside Stable 1 mile1:33.11$350,000I [26]
2001 Left Bank 4 John R. Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher Michael B. Tabor 1 mile1:33.35$350,000I [27]
2000El Corredor3 Jerry D. Bailey Bob Baffert Hal Earnhardt III1 mile1:34.68$350,000I [28]
1999Affirmed Success5 Jorge F. Chavez Richard E. SchosbergAlbert Fried Jr.1 mile1:34.18$350,000I [29]
1998 Sir Bear 5 Jerry D. Bailey Ralph ZiadieBarbara Smollin1 mile1:34.05$300,000I [30]
1997Devious Course5 Jorge F. Chavez H. James BondClarence Scharbauer Jr.1 mile1:34.80$250,000I [31]
NYRA Mile Handicap
1996Gold Fever3 Mike E. Smith Claude R. McGaughey III Cynthia Phipps1 mile1:34.98$250,000I [32]
1995Flying Chevron3 Robbie Davis James J. Toner Caesar P. Kimmel1 mile1:34.57$250,000I [33]
1994 Cigar 4 Jerry D. Bailey William I. Mott Madeleine Paulson 1 mile1:36.10$250,000I [34]
1993Race not held
1992Ibero (ARG) 5 Laffit Pincay Jr. Ron McAnally Frank Whitham1 mile1:33.97$500,000I [35]
1991Rubiano4 Jose A. Santos Flint S. Schulhofer Centennial Farm1 mile1:33.68$500,000I [36]
1990 Quiet American 4 Chris McCarron Gary F. Jones Sheikh Mohammed 1 mile1:32.80$638,000I [37]
1989Dispersal3 Angel Cordero Jr. Bud Delp Tom O. Myerhoff1 mile1:32.80$581,000 [38]
1988 Forty Niner 3William Fox Jr. Woodford C. Stephens Claiborne Farm 1 mile1:34.00$567,000 [1]

Notes:
† In the 2006 running of the event Harlem Rocker was first past the post in a photo finish by a nose margin but was disqualified for interference in the straight and was placed second. Tale of Ekati was declared the official winner of the event.

See also

External sites

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References

  1. 1 2 Moran, Paul (23 October 1988). "7-1 Dispersal Wins NYRA Mile By Nose – (race 8: held 22 October 1988)". Baltimore Sun . The Associated Press. p. 71. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 "CIGAR MILE HANDICAP - MULTIPLE TRACKS". Thoroughbred Database. 2021. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  3. ↑ "Cigar Mile Handicap Profile". www.equibase.com. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  4. ↑ "American Graded Stakes Committee Releases 2023 Grades; The Stephen Foster Stakes is the only new grade 1 stakes for 2023". Bloodhorse.com. Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. 16 December 2022. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  5. ↑ "2023 Cigar Mile Handicap Grade 2 - (race 10)". Equibase. 3 December 2022. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  6. ↑ "2022 Cigar Mile Handicap Presented by NYRA Bets Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 3 December 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  7. ↑ "2021 Cigar Mile Handicap Presented by NYRA Bets Grade 1 - (race 10)". Equibase. 4 December 2021. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  8. ↑ "2020 Cigar Mile Handicap Grade 1 - (race 10)". Equibase. 5 December 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  9. ↑ "2019 Cigar Mile Handicap Grade 1 - (race 10)". Equibase. 7 December 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  10. ↑ "2018 Cigar Mile H. Presented by NYRA Bets Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 1 December 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  11. ↑ "2017 Cigar Mile H. Presented by NYRA Bets Grade 1 - (race 10)". Equibase. 2 December 2017. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  12. ↑ "2016 Cigar Mile Handicap Grade 1 - (race 10)". Equibase. 26 November 2016. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  13. ↑ "2015 Cigar Mile Handicap Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 28 November 2015. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  14. ↑ "2014 Cigar Mile Handicap Grade 1 - (race 10)". Equibase. 29 November 2014. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  15. ↑ "2013 Cigar Mile Handicap Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 30 November 2013. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  16. ↑ "2012 Cigar Mile Handicap Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 24 November 2012. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  17. ↑ "2011 Cigar Mile Handicap Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 26 November 2011. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  18. ↑ "2010 Hill 'N' Dale Cigar Mile Handicap Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 27 November 2010. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  19. ↑ "2009 Hill 'N' Dale Cigar Mile Handicap Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 28 November 2009. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  20. ↑ "2008 Hill 'N' Dale Cigar Mile Handicap Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 29 November 2008. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  21. ↑ "2007 Hill 'n' Dale Cigar Mile Handicap Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 24 November 2007. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  22. ↑ "2006 Hill 'n' Dale Cigar Mile Handicap Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 25 November 2006. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  23. ↑ "2005 Hill 'n' Dale Cigar Mile Handicap Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 26 November 2005. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  24. ↑ "2004 Cigar Mile Handicap Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 27 November 2004. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  25. ↑ "2003 Cigar Mile Handicap Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 29 November 2003. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  26. ↑ "2002 Cigar Mile Handicap Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 30 November 2002. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  27. ↑ "2001 Cigar Mile Handicap Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 24 November 2001. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  28. ↑ "2000 Cigar Mile Handicap Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 25 November 2000. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  29. ↑ "1999 Cigar Mile Handicap Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 27 November 1999. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  30. ↑ "1998 Cigar Mile Handicap Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 28 November 1998. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  31. ↑ "1997 Cigar Mile Handicap Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 29 November 1997. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  32. ↑ "1996 NYRA Mile Handicap Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 30 November 1996. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  33. ↑ "1995 NYRA Mile Handicap Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 25 November 1995. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  34. ↑ "1994 NYRA Mile Handicap Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 26 November 1994. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  35. ↑ "1992 NYRA Mile Handicap Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 24 October 1992. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  36. ↑ "1991 NYRA Mile Handicap Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 26 October 1991. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  37. ↑ "Quiet American scores sizzling NYRA Mile win – (race 8: held 3 November 1990)". Lexington Herald-Leader . The Associated Press. 4 November 1990. p. 36. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  38. ↑ "7-1 Dispersal Wins NYRA Mile By Nose – (race 8: held 21 October 1989)". Newsday (Suffolk Edition). 22 October 1989. p. 179. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
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