Nine Lining Up to Face Maximum Security in Cigar Mile

With the days drawing closer to the final graded stakes of the year in New York, it looks as if Maximum Security will have plenty of company in the $750,000 Cigar Mile Handicap (G1).

As of Nov. 30, New York Racing Association officials listed 10 probable starters in the Cigar, one of four graded stakes with a combined purse of $1.5 million on the Dec. 7 card at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Maximum Security, Gary and Mary West's homebred son of New Year's Day, figures to be the favorite in the Cigar as he chases a third grade 1 victory in 2019 and attempts to strengthen his résumé for an Eclipse Award as the year's top 3-year-old male. Destined to be best remembered for being controversially disqualified from first to 17th in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), Maximum Security's résumé also features wins in the TVG.com Haskell Invitational (G1) and Xpressbet Florida Derby (G1) as well as a victory in the Bold Ruler Handicap (G3) in his most recent start.

His main rival promises to be Robert Donaldson's Spun to Run, a 3-year-old son of Hard Spun  who is coming off a victory over Omaha Beach  in the Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) for trainer Juan Carlos Guerrero.

They are expected to be joined by two fellow 3-year-olds trained by Chad Brown: Network Effect, owned by Klaravich Stables, and Looking At Bikinis, owned by Doheny Racing Stable, Thomas Coleman, Madaket Stables, and Long Lake Stable.

A solid group of older horses are also lining up for the 31st edition of the Cigar, including Red Oak Stable's Bal Harbour, who was second in the Woodward Stakes (G1); Harold Lerner, AWC Stables, and Nehoc Stables' Kelso Handicap (G2) winner Pat On the Back, who was fifth in last year's Cigar; Charles Fipke's Tale of Silence; Calumet Farm's 2018 Cigar runner-up True Timber, who was third in the Bold Ruler; Robert LaPenta, Head of Plains Partners, and Ron Moquett's $2.8 million earner Whitmore; and Uriah St. Lewis' Forewarned.

Weights for the Cigar will be released Dec. 1.

Saturday's card will also feature a pair of 1 1/8-mile stakes for 2-year-olds, the Remsen Stakes (G2) and Demoiselle Stakes (G2) for fillies, and the Go for Wand Handicap (G3), a mile test for fillies and mares.

The $250,000 Remsen offers points toward a spot in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) to the top four finishers on a sliding scale of 10-4-2-1.

A field of eight is taking shape for the 106th Remsen, though only three of them have stakes experience. That trio includes Shadwell Stable's Ajaaweed, who was fourth in the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1); St. Lewis' Informative, who was second by a nose in the James F. Lewis III Stakes; and Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber, Pantofel Stable, and Blue River Investment Partners' Shotski, who was fourth in the Street Sense Stakes.

The other probable starters are Phipps Stable's Amends; Imperial Racing's Celtic Striker; Paul Pompa Jr.'s Country Grammer; Don Alberto Stable's Forza Di Oro; and Newtown Anner Stud and KimDon Racing's Prince James.

Gold Square's Cleon Jones and D. J. Stable and Cash is King's Super John are possible starters.

The $250,000 Demoiselle is a points race for the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1), with the same 10-4-2-1 allotment to the top four finishers.

There are nine likely starters and three possible entrants in the two-turn test for 2-year-old fillies, topped by Courtlandt Farm's Tempted Stakes winner Maedean; Helen Alexander and Helen Groves' Alandra, who was third in the Darley Alcibiades Stakes (G1); and Godolphin's Lake Avenue, a 12 3/4-length maiden winner at Aqueduct.

The other probable starters are Gold Square and Double O Racing Stable's Daphne Moon; Leonard Green and Sean Shay's Fiftyshays Ofgreen; Corms Racing Stable's Glass Ceiling; D. J. Stable's Jara; Alfonso Cammarota's Miss Marissa; and E.V. Racing Stable's Water White.

The possible starters are Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Michael Cloonan, and Timothy Thornton's Blame Debbie; R. A. Hill Stable and George Weaver's I Dare U; and Calumet Farm's Indawin.

The $250,000 Go For Wand has just five probables, topped by Peter Deutsch, Wachtel Stable, and Pantofel Stable's Spiced Perfection, who was fourth in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1).

The field is also expected to include Kip Knelman's Another Broad; NY Final Furlong Racing Stable, Maspeth Stables, and Parkland Thoroughbreds' Espresso Shot; Michael Foster, Charlton Baker, and Lauren Linn's Our Super Nova; and Newtown Anner Stud and Mark Breen's Saguaro Row.