Photograph: Gary Johnson/Eclipse Sportswire
Grade 2, $500,000 cigar mile Seven horses tied within the last graded stakes of the yr on the NYRA circuit at Suidobashi on Saturday. that is the final of six stakes races on the cardboard with a bankroll of $2.25 million. This would be the final time the race, initially referred to as the NYRA Mile, can be held in Suidobashi, because the winter race can be moved to the newly renovated Belmont Park beginning subsequent yr.
For the nice Thoroughbred Cigar, the NYRA Mile was the second win of a historic 16-race profitable streak from 1994-1996. The 2-time Horse of the 12 months completed his profession with a document of 33 races, 19 wins, 5 losses, and 4 losses, with earnings of $9.999 million.
This can be a full area evaluation together with Cigar Mile morning odds by Brian Zipes. horse racing nation. It’s set as race 10 of an 11-race card, with put up time scheduled for 3:37 p.m. ET.
1. Dr. Sullivan, 8-1. solo mini – John Ortiz / Ricardo Santana Jr. – 19: 6-6-2 – $657,840. Doc Sullivan is a three-time stakes winner from New York. He has tried for graded races 3 times throughout his profession, together with his greatest outcomes this yr being two fourth-place finishes within the Forego (G1) at Saratoga and the Vosborough (G3) at Aqueduct. He was final seen profitable the State Stakes by greater than 5 lengths on a tough, seven-furlong, closed monitor. toss.
2. Mika, 12-1. Catholic boy – microphone maker / Manny Franco – 7: 3-0-0 – $114,664. Mika switched from grass to grime in Could and has received two open size races. The three-year-old received by greater than 9 lengths at Delaware Park, then returned from a five-month break to win at Laurel Park by greater than 14 lengths. He ran within the Kentucky Downs turf stakes final yr however was not aggressive. Micah makes his first begin since coming back from Brittany Russell to Mike Maker, and Manny Franco takes the mount. stay lengthy shot.
3. Pentathlon, 10-1. Speightstown – shag mcgoey / Junior Alvarado – 14: 3-1-3 – $241,352. Pentatalon has been awarded two allowances for stalking journeys this yr. He entered the race as the favourite for a similar prize, as soon as on the moist monitor at Saratoga in June, and once more in his most up-to-date race at Aqueduct in October. toss.
4. Loopy Mason, 7-2. Coal Entrance – Greg Sacco / Irado Ortiz Jr. – 17: 5-3-4 – $524,470. Loopy Mason got here again from final within the eight-horse area to complete second at Vosborough. Large A is the 4-year-old’s favourite monitor, the place he has recorded three of his 5 profession wins. He received the Carter Trophy (G2) in April by seven furlongs and two lengths. The Coal Entrance product completed third, two instances behind Buem Danno, who’s a high sprinter and a finalist for this yr’s Eclipse Award. Though he has received the mile up to now, that is his first win within the one-turn format, and that must be appreciated. Most really helpful.
5. Potential, 20-1. Grazing – chris inglehart / John Velazquez – 39: 4-9-9 – $292,582. Overtly is a seven-year veteran of allowance races, profitable two of these races. He began all however one on the West Coast, racing at tracks in Northern and Southern California. He has raced 3 times this yr for coach Will Walden, and this can be his first race since shifting to coach Chris Inglehart. Overtly final discovered the winner’s circle in August 2024, and the Cigar Mile can be his first foray into any sort of stakes race. toss.
6. Phileas Fogg, 2-1. Stern – Gustavo Rodriguez / Joel Rosario – 20: 9-5-0 – $796,773. Jockey Phileas Fogg plans to shorten the space from an extended sequence of two-turn doubles to the mile. His efforts up entrance helped him end second to Locked within the Woodward (G2), third within the Jockey Membership Gold Cup (G1) and win the Suburban (G2) at Saratoga in June. He returned after a two-month layoff and has carried out properly after this sort of depart up to now. Like jockey Joel Rosario, his blinkers can be on for the primary time. Winner candidate.
7. Bishop’s Bay, 8-5. Uncle Mo – brad cox / Flavien Prat – 12: 8-3-0 – $702,800. It lastly noticed Bishops Bay push the early tempo and win the one-mile 49er (G3) after controlling the race on the entrance of the straight. Brad Cox’s runners received 5 of six races in 2025, together with the one-turn Westchester (G3) at Aqueduct and the Salvator Mile at Monmouth Park. Bishop’s Bay’s profitable streak was interrupted after they completed sixth as an alternative of their typical favorites at Forego, who have been 9-1. Winner candidate.
abstract: The 2025 Cigar Mile will characteristic three main prize winners: Loopy Mason, Phileas Fogg and Bishop’s Bay. Bishop’s Bay and Phileas Fogg have related information, with eight and 9 wins respectively and lifelong earnings of greater than $700,000. These two choose to race at or simply behind the entrance and have in depth expertise over lengthy distances. Mika, who has received the final two races by a distance, will doubtless be a part of him on the entrance.
Loopy Mason ought to get a good tempo state of affairs with Phileas Fogg, Bishop’s Bay and Mika battling it out on the entrance finish. Irad Ortiz Jr. can be again on the town Saturday to experience runner Greg Sacco. I anticipate late-starting sprinters to make use of the added distance to their benefit. Loopy Mason is the highest decide.
