Mendelssohn makes usual trip for Cigar Mile

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Though Coolmore has already advertised Mendelssohn as an addition to its North American stallion roster in 2019, the speedy 3-year-old will have two more starts before he begins his stud career, beginning with Saturday’s Grade 1, $750,000 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct.

Mendelssohn is also expected to run in the $9 million Pegasus at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 26, 2019.

Mendelssohn arrived in New York on Tuesday night from Ireland. He was to remain in quarantine at Belmont Park until mid-morning Thursday, then van over to Aqueduct, where he will train Friday. Mendelssohn will mark trainer Aidan O’Brien’s first starter at the Big A.

The Cigar marks the sixth straight trip Mendelssohn has made to the U.S. since the spring. His tour began in the Kentucky Derby, where he finished last in the 20-horse field. The pace of the race and the sloppy track were new experiences for Mendelssohn, a halfbrother to the U.S. champion mare Beholder, and he didn’t handle it well.

He raced in New York in the Dwyer (third), the Travers (second) and the Jockey Club Gold Cup (third) before running fifth to Accelerate in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs.

T. J. Comerford, who has traveled several times with Mendelssohn, said the horse has handled all his traveling well.

“Fresh and wild,” Comerford said Wednesday morning at blustery Belmont Park. “Coming here last night he was fresh. He’s good. I can’t see any change in him. I could see a change in his races since coming here for the [Dwyer]. That was disappointing when you look back at it, but then he progressed and got better.”

In the Classic, Mendelssohn set the pace to the quarter pole before being overtaken by Accelerate. He finished fifth, beaten four lengths.

Mendelssohn has shown speed in last four trips to the U.S., a style that should prove useful again after having drawn the rail in an eight-horse field.

There was a notable defection at entry time as No Dozing, the 9 3/4-length winner of the Grade 3 Bold Ruler Handicap, was not entered due to a suspected bruised foot.

Outside of Mendelssohn, who will again be ridden by Ryan Moore, the rest of the field in post order: Sunny Ridge (Irad Ortiz), Pat On the Back (Dylan Davis), Stan the Man (Eric Cancel), Copper Town (Javier Castellano), True Timber (Joe Bravo), Timeline (John Velazquez), and Patternrecognition (Jose Ortiz).

Remsen gains starters

Saturday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Remsen Stakes lost a key player before entries when trainer Shug McGaughey said Tuesday that Champagne runner-up Code of Honor would not run.

McGaughey wasn’t satisfied with how Code of Honor worked on Monday at Belmont Park and plans to wait until the Gulfstream Park meet to run the horse again.

His defection helped create a late run to the entry box with Tax, Chinomado, and Gladiator King all being entered after news of Code of Honor’s defection.

The favorite will be Maximus Mischief, a son of Into Mischief who has romped to victory in his two races, both at Parx this fall. Maximus Mischief will break from post 6 under Frankie Pennington.

Network Effect, runner-up in the Grade 3 Nashua, will likely be second choice while breaking from post 5 under Javier Castellano.

Jungle Warrior, who makes his dirt debut in the Remsen, drew the rail, followed by Chinomado, Bourbon War, Gladiator King, Network Effect, Maximus Mischief, and Tax. In other stakes on Saturday: ◗ Marley’s Freedom drew the rail and will likely be an oddson favorite against six rivals in the Grade 3, $250,000 Go for Wand Handicap. Marley’s Freedom, with Mike Smith riding for Bob Baffert, won the Grade 1 Ballerina earlier this summer at Saratoga. She is coming off a fourth-place finish as the favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

Outside of Marley’s Freedom will be Browse, Sower, Bonita Bianca, Your Love, Tigalalu, Come Dancing, and Pacific Wind.

◗ Enliven, second to Oxy Lady in the Grade 3 Tempted, drew the rail in a field of seven entered in the Grade 2, $250,000 Demoiselle for 2-year-old fillies. Outside of her will be Girl of Tosconova, Filly Joel, Positive Spirit, Jennifer’s Dream, Afleet Destiny, and Molito Bella.

Rosenblum, Rice split

Owner Sheila Rosenblum and trainer Linda Rice have ended their business relationship after a six-year run.

Rosenblum on Wednesday confirmed that she had moved horses to trainers Jonathan Thomas, Gary Contessa, and Jeremiah Englehart.

“I adore Linda. She’s a wonderful trainer,” Rosenblum said Wednesday at Belmont where she watched some of the horses she has with Contessa train. “I think it was just time to spread my wings.”