Cigar Mile (G1)

PICO CENTRAL (Brz) (Spend A Buck) highlights an excellent
field of nine entered for Saturday’s $350,000 Cigar Mile H. (G1).
The Paulo Lobo-trained five-year-old already owns three Grade 1
victories this season and will likely lock up champion sprinter
honors with a victory. He’ll be tough to beat from the rail, but
we’ll look for some value.

UNFORGETTABLE MAX (Northern Afleet) has earned superb BRIS
Speed ratings of 110, 108 and 107 (four times) while squaring off
against top competition on numerous occasions and enters off a
strong three-length win in the Shaky Green S. at Delaware Park.
The four-year-old shows two excellent efforts at a mile this year
and should flash speed from the start after recording E1 and E2
Pace ratings of 103 and 114 in his last start. Unforgettable Max
gets nine pounds from the favorite and could post an upset with
his stellar present form.

Pico Central ran a huge race over the Aqueduct main track
earlier this year when taking the Carter H. (G1) and has proven
himself at eight furlongs, winning the Met Mile (G1) impressively
in May. He became the first horse to sweep those events and the
Vosburgh S. (G1) in the same season when rolling to a four-length
score in his last start at Belmont Park and has run well fresh
before. The rail probably isn’t the best place to be here, but
Pico Central owns the quickness to go right to the front from the
start and could stay there. However, he did regress two starts
back when third in the Pat O’Brien Breeders’ Cup H. (G2) and will
be making his third trip east from California here in the last
eight months.

PURGE (Pulpit) makes his first start since finishing fourth in
the Travers S. (G1) and trainer Todd Pletcher likes to give the
sophomore colt plenty of time between starts. The bay has been
working well in the mornings for his return and should relish the
turn back in distance to a mile. Purge figures to be sitting in
the garden spot off the early lead and could offer a stiff
challenge into the stretch.

LION TAMER (Will’s Way) exits a decent runner-up finish in the
Sport Page H. (G3) at Aqueduct in which he earned a huge Speed
rating, but this company represents a much tougher obstacle. The
late-running chestnut likes middle distances, so he merits
consideration for the bottom of the exotics. VOODOO (Petionville)
is another who could close for part. He owns a commendable mark
over the Big A main track (9-1-1-3) and comes off two solid
performances for conditioner James Jerkens.

KELA (Numerous) ran a big race late for second in the
Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) and wheels back 28 days later for
trainer Mike Mitchell. A mile looks like a much better fit than
six furlongs for the six-year-old gelding, and we loved his
winning effort in the Pat O’Brien two starts back. We don’t
dismiss his chances, but Kela has never run in New York and might
need a little more time to bounce back off his Breeders’ Cup
effort.

BADGE OF SILVER (Silver Deputy) needed his last race off a
lengthy layoff and is now conditioned by Bobby Frankel. The four-year-old
is very quick and could be pressing the pace from the outset, but
he may get a little tired in the stretch against this kind of
competition. DURING (Cherokee Run) disappointed against weaker on
the Breeders’ Cup undercard and probably needs an easier spot to
be effective. POTRISUNRISE (Arg) (Potrillazo) enters off a two-race
win skein against claimers. This class hike looks too difficult.