Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Seymourdini set for Cigar Mile
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Linda Rice has been thinking about the Grade 1 Cigar Mile for Seymourdini for months. Though there were a few bumps along the road, Seymourdini has seemingly arrived at his destination in good shape.
On Friday, Seymourdini worked six furlongs in 1:14.44 over the Belmont Park training track in preparation for the $750,000 Cigar Mile next Saturday. In a move that began at the half-mile pole, Seymourdini went a quarter in 24.80 seconds, the half-mile in 48.97, and got his final quarter, which went around the turn, in 25.47.
“He went nice and even. I was happy with it,” said Linda Rice, who waited until after the 9:30 a.m. break to work Seymourdini.
Seymourdini won the State Dinner Stakes by 10 1/2 lengths July 3 at Belmont Park, capping a three-race streak that also had him post allowance wins at Laurel Park by 12 1/4 and 13 1/2 lengths. It was after the State Dinner that Rice began thinking about the Cigar Mile, but she wasn’t sure how best to get there. A minor issue in the summer forced her to scrap any thought of running in Saratoga.
Seymourdini returned in the Grade 3 Bold Ruler Handicap on Oct. 28 at Belmont, where he finished fourth, beaten only 1 3/4 lengths, in a race where he was last, 8 3/4 lengths back at the eighth pole. He galloped out about 10 lengths or more past the field after the wire under Jose Ortiz.
“Around the turn, Jose was asking him and he just didn’t engage,” Rice said. “He ran green into the dirt. He has so much natural speed, it was foreign territory for him. He didn’t engage until the eighth pole. I wasn’t disappointed in the horse, I was disappointed in the trip. I think he could have won with a better trip.”
Seymourdini was one of four potential Cigar Mile starters who put in workouts Friday morning at Belmont. Beasley, who finished third in the Bold Ruler, worked a half-mile by himself in 48.09 over the main track. It was the fastest of 16 moves at the distance.
Neolithic, second in the Fayette Stakes, worked a halfmile in 48.68 in company with Vulcan’s Forge, who is listed as a possible starter. Both horses are trained by Todd Pletcher.
Entries for the Cigar Mile will be made Wednesday. Others expected to enter the Cigar Mile are Americanize, Calculator, Mind Your Biscuits, Practical Joke, Sharp Azteca, Summer Revolution, Tale of S’avall, and Tom’s Ready.
Avery Island drills for Remsen
Avery Island, convincing winner of the Grade 2 Nashua here Nov. 5, worked four furlongs in 47.50 seconds Friday morning over Belmont Park’s training track in preparation for a start in next Saturday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Remsen Stakes for 2-year-olds at Aqueduct.
Avery Island, working outside of the 4-year-old colt Tathqeef, went his opening quarter in 23.43 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:01.11.
“He worked well and looked good doing it,” said Joe Lee, assistant to trainer Kiaran McLaughlin.
Avery Island is the third McLaughlin trainee in the last five years to win the Nashua and run back in the Remsen. In 2013, Cairo Prince was beaten a nose in the Remsen. In 2015, Mohaymen won both races. Lee said he and McLaughlin are very much looking forward to trying Avery Island at 1 1/8 miles in the Remsen.
“I’m sure the boss is because he’s a big galloping son of a gun,” Lee said. “I think the longer the better for him, with that big old stride. He seemed to just be leveling out down the stretch of that last race.”
Entries for the Remsen will be taken Wednesday. Others expected include Alkhaatam, Catholic Boy, Tap Rap Strike, and V.I.P. Code. Possible starters include Biblical, Evaluator, Marconi, Vouch, Triple Dog Dare, and one horse from Dale Romans, who nominated Bandito, Seven Trumpets, and Storm Runner.
Stallwalkin’ Dude to Gravesend
Stallwalkin’ Dude came out of his 1 3/4-length victory in Thursday’s Grade 3 Fall Highweight Handicap “great,” according to trainer and partowner David Jacobson who said the 7-year-old gelding would likely be aimed at the $100,000 Gravesend Stakes here Dec. 23. Stallwalkin’ Dude won last year’s Gravesend after finishing second in the Fall Highweight.
On Thursday, Stallwalkin’ Dude rallied from last under Joel Rosario, splitting horses while four wide in midstretch and outfinishing Threefiveindia in the Fall Highweight, in which he carried top weight of 134 pounds. He ran six furlongs in 1:11.11 and earned a 102 Beyer Speed Figure.
“He’s as good as he’s ever been,” Jacobson said, repeating a phrase he has used all fall. “He’s not supposed to be.”
The Fall Highweight was the 20th win in 59 career starts for Stallwalkin’ Dude, who has been going strong for three years since Jacobson claimed him for $16,000 on Sept. 20, 2014. He has won eight stakes, including the Grade 3 Bold Ruler and three runnings of the Tale of the Cat at Saratoga.
“He’s never been laid up, never stopped training, he never had to go to the farm or just walk for two weeks,” Jacobson said.
Jacobson scratched Stallwalkin’ Dude out of Wednesday night’s $200,000 Fabulous Strike Handicap at Penn National, but won that race anyway with Chief Lion. Jacobson said Chief Lion would be pointed to the Dave’s Friend Stakes on Dec. 31 at Laurel.