Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott is likely to have a pair of runners for
To Honor and Serve was beaten 3 1/2 lengths when finishing seventh in the
“We thought he was doing well enough to nominate and train up to the Cigar
To Honor and Serve is two-for-two at Aqueduct with easy victories last fall
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“I think it could be very good,” Mott said. “He’s a big horse, but he seems
to be fairly quick and he has speed for his size. Shortening back from 1 1/4
miles to a mile is not usually an easy task, but it’s possible.”
The Cigar Mile headlines Saturday’s card at the Big A and 2010 winner Jersey
Town will attempt to defend his title in the feature race. Also expected is
Empire Classic winner Haynesfield, beaten a head in last year’s renewal of the
Cigar Mile; the Repole Stable duo of Calibrachoa and Caixa Eletronica,
respectively the first- and third-place finishers in Aqueduct’s Grade 3 Bold
Ruler Handicap on November 6; and Bold Ruler runner-up Sangaree, a half-brother
to 2002-03 Cigar Mile winner Congaree.
Arena Elvira, fresh off her first graded stakes victory in the November 4
Turnback the Alarm, will try for her second graded victory in the Go for Wand.
Owned by Carolyn Wilson, she has assembled a record of 6-3-2 from 11 starts at
distances ranging from six furlongs to 1 1/8 miles and has won her last three
starts, all in 1 1/8-mile stakes races.
“Another one coming back quickly, shortening up and this is probably the last
race of the season for her as well,” Mott said. “She’s doing well and we’ll give
it a try. She’s really been a gem of consistency.”
The Go for Wand will be contested next Friday at one mile. The race is also
expected to serve as a rematch between Risky Rachel and Lovely Lil, the top two
finishers in the Iroquois Stakes on October 22 at Belmont Park. All Due Respect
and Indian Legend are also probable, with Persuading listed as questionable.
Awesome Feather, the undefeated champion juvenile filly of 2010, is gearing
up for her second start of 2011 in next Saturday’s Grade 1, $250,000 Gazelle
Stakes. She will likely turn in her final work for the race on Monday.
Sidelined with a tendon issue for most of the year, Awesome Feather won her
comeback race, the seven-furlong Le Slew Stakes at Belmont Park on October 5, to
remain a perfect seven-for-seven.
“She’s on target for the Gazelle and is doing really well,” said Chad Brown,
who trains the daughter of Awesome of Course for Stronach Stables. “She’ll
probably breeze on Monday. She’s held up really well and she hasn’t had a bad
day of training. Not one day. I’m excited to see her run around two turns at
Aqueduct and see what she can do in a Grade 1.”
The Le Slew was Awesome Feather’s first start for Stronach and Brown. As a
juvenile, she was campaigned by her breeder, Jacks or Better Farm, and trained
by Stanley Gold. Stronach purchased her at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Mixed
Sale in 2010 for $2.3 million.
“It would be a nice reward for the Stronachs,” Brown said of a victory in the
Gazelle. “They have been patient with this filly and gave me a lot of leeway
with her. I just make sure she is 100 percent every day when we go out there,
and she has been. It would be nice to reward them for their patience. She’s a
really gutsy horse — she just has a great attitude about her.”
Slated to face Awesome Feather in the 1 1/8-mile Gazelle are Bryan’s Jewel,
Daring Reality, Draw It, Juanita, Purple Cat, R Gypsy Gold, and Savvy Supreme.
Love and Pride is questionable.
A pair of Grade 2, 1 1/8-mile stakes for juveniles, the Remsen and the
Demoiselle for fillies, are also scheduled for Saturday. According to NYRA
stakes coordinator Andrew Byrnes, the Remsen will probably attract Done Talking,
El Padrino, O’Prado Again, Our Entourage, Souper Speedy, Speightcity, and
Stephanoatsee. Cyber Secret, Managed Account and Tiger Walk were listed as
possible.
For the Demoiselle, Bourbonstreetgirl, Brown Eyed Nance, Captivating Lass,
Disposable Pleasure, Dreaming of Cara, Indyniable, and Wildcat’s Smile were all
cited as probable.
The Grade 3, $100,000 Fall Highweight Handicap at six furlongs on
Thanksgiving Day will serve as the week’s first graded stakes and, according to
Byrnes, is expected to attract General Maximus and Dr Disco, who ran 1-2 in the
Hudson Stakes on October 22 at Belmont Park. Probables also include Flat Bold,
Frazil, Nathan’s H Q, Sunrise Smarty, and This Ones for Phil.
Racing fans can catch all the HolidayFest action at Aqueduct and the
simulcast center at Belmont Café. On Thanksgiving Day, parking for the Belmont
Café opens at 9:30 a.m. (EST), with admission gates for both Aqueduct and the
Belmont Café opening at 9:30 a.m. and mutuel windows opening at 10:45 a.m. First
race post time is 11:25 a.m., with the last race going off at 3:10 p.m.
The first floor clubhouse at the Big A and the Belmont Café will remain open
for simulcasting, with the last race post time approximately 5:45 p.m. on
Thanksgiving Day.
On Friday and Saturday, November 25 and 26, first race post time at Aqueduct
is noon, with mutuel windows at Aqueduct and the Belmont Café opening at 11:15
a.m.