Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
American revolution likely to take shot at Cigar Mile
OZONE PARK, N. Y.–American revolution, who earned a 108 Beyer Speed Figure for his victory in the Empire Classic on Oct. 30, is under strong consideration for the Grade 1, $750,000 Cigar Mile on Dec. 4, trainer Todd Pletcher said Wednesday.
American revolution, a 3-year-old son of Constitution, won the Empire Classic for New York-breds by 11 3/4 lengths. He ran a one-turn 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.11.
It was his fourth victory from six starts. He is 4 for 4 versus New York-breds. He finished fourth behind Mandaloun in his career debut 13 months ago. He finished third behind Hot Rod Charlie and Midnight Bourbon in the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby on Sept. 25 at Parx Racing.
Pletcher, a four-time Cigar Mile winner, doesn’t think the Cigar Mile distance will be a problem for American revolution.
“It’s a cutback in distance, but the way he performed at one turn he should be able to handle it,” Pletcher said.
American revolution will try to become the 10th 3-year-old to win the Cigar Mile, which will be having its 33rd running. Connect in 2016 was the last to do it.
American revolution could be one of two winners from the Oct. 30 Empire Showcase Day to run in the Cigar Mile. Ny Traffic, who won the Hudson Handicap by 8 3/4 lengths, earning a 90 Beyer, also is under consideration for that race, trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said after the Hudson Handicap.
Rinaldi aims higher
Rinaldi scratched out of last Saturday’s $200,000 Mohawk Stakes against New York-breds at Belmont Park to run in Saturday’s $150,000 Artie Schiller Stakes against open company at Aqueduct.
Rinaldi, trained by James Bond, was one of 10 turf horses entered Wednesday for Saturday’s Artie Schiller. There also were two entered to run only if the race is transferred to the main track.
Bond cited several reasons for scratching out of the richer restricted stakes to run in this open-company event going a mile.
“I’ve always thought he’s better around two turns,” said Bond, noting the configuration of this race compared to the one-turn, 1 1/16 miles of the Mohawk. “He loves a fresh turf course, and [Luis] Saez was available.”
Bond also said that if Rinaldi had run in the Mohawk he and Some like it hot brown would likely have gotten into a speed duel and “set it up for somebody else.”
Some like it hot brown won the Mohawk in front-running fashion.
On July 16, the second day of the Saratoga meet, Rinaldi won the Grade 3 Forbidden Apple Stakes going a two-turn mile on a fresh turf course. Before that, he finished second to Delaware in the Danger’s Hour in April over the Aqueduct turf. Last year, Rinaldi finished fourth, beaten three-quarters of length by Therapist in the Artie Schiller.
Rinaldi will break from post 3 in a field that includes Flavius, Olympic Runner, March to the Arch, Bodecream, Tell Your Daddy, En Wye Cee, Breaking the Rules, Field Pass, and Mandate. The two main trackonly entrants are Our Last Buck and Bal Harbour.
Chateau eyes Fall Highweight
Chateau, winner of the Grade 3 Tom Fool Handicap in March at Aqueduct, could target the Grade 3, $200,000 Fall Highweight Handicap for his next start, trainer Rob Atras said Wednesday.
After winning the Tom Fool, Chateau finished fourth in the Grade 1 Carter, second in the Grade 3 Runhappy, and third in the Lite the Fuse at Pimlico before getting a break.
Chateau came off a twomonth layoff with a last-place finish in an allowance at Parx Racing.
Atras said that jockey Kendrick Carmouche told him Chateau didn’t get a hold of the track at Parx.
Chateau’s Tom Fool was one of four stakes wins for Atras during the Aqueduct 2020-21 winter meet. American Power won the Grade 3 Toboggan and the Caixa Eletronica. On Sept. 2, he finished last to Aloha West in an allowance/optionalclaiming race from which he was claimed for $100,000. The claim was voided by the stewards for soundness reasons. Atras said he disagreed with that void, but added he’s happy to have the horse back. He should run at some point during the Aqueduct fall meet.
Meanwhile, Atras said that Maracuja, who upset the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks, is a month or so into a freshening on the farm. She could resume light training on the farm in December and return to Atras in January. Atras said Maracuja could make her 4-year-old debut in early spring of 2022.
◗ Code of Honor, second to Independence Hall in the Fayette Stakes at Keeneland, was credited with a half-mile work in 49 seconds Wednesday morning at Belmont. Trainer Shug McGaughey said he is still considering the Grade 1 Clark Stakes on Nov. 26 at Churchill Downs for Code of Honor, but mentioned he would be nominated to the Grade 1 Cigar Mile, to be run Dec. 4.