Cigar Street rolls home in Skip Away

Cigar Street is by Street Sense out of a half-sister to Cigar (Joe Ganley/EquiSport Photos)

Jake Ballis and Rashard Lewis’ Cigar Street rolled home in the stretch to
capture his first stakes victory in the Grade 3, $100,000
Skip
Away Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Saturday.

The lightly raced four-year-old colt bumped with eventual runner-up and
pacesetter Take Charge Indy racing into the first turn. Cigar Street staked the
pace three wide through splits of :23 4/5, :48 3/5 and 1:12 1/5 before making
his move along the far turn. He gained a narrow advantage entering the stretch
but was unable to shake loose Take Charge Indy, who fought back gamely but was
unable to keep up with the son of Street Sense as he pulled away for a
two-length win.

Take Charge Indy had to settle for second while another 6 3/4 lengths back in
third was Pants on Fire. Golden Ticket, Eldaafer, Al Qasr, Gourmet Dinner,
Where’s the Baby and O’Prado Again completed the order under the wire.

With John Velazquez aboard his fourth winning mount on the day, Cigar Street
covered 1 3/16 miles over the fast track in 1:56 4/5.

“There are no limits to this horse,” Velazquez said. “He’s doing everything
really well. With every race he’s stepping up more and more. He has a big future
so hopefully he stays sound.”

Cigar Street broke his maiden in his second attempt at Fair Grounds by 13 3/4
lengths on March 10 of last year and then ran fourth in the Grade 2 Louisiana
Derby for trainer Stephen Margolis. The dark bay was moved to Bill Mott’s barn
and did not race until December, when he won an optional claimer at Gulfstream
Park. He made his four-year-old bow over the track by winning an optional
claimer last month.

The 9-5 favorite returned $5.60, $3.40 and $2.60 to his supporters. Cigar
Street banked $60,000 for his first stakes win, increasing his lifetime earnings
to $182,138 from a 6-4-0-0 line.