Cigar Street Returns in Homecoming Classic

Cigar Street returned to his winning ways when he easily held off favored Departing to take the $135,500 Homecoming Classic at Churchill Downs by 1 3/4 lengths .

 

Departing, the 6-5 choice in the field of six, caught longshot Call Me George in deep stretch for the place spot, with Pick of the Litter just another neck back in fourth.

 

Cigar Street, a 5-year-old son of Street Sense  , is owned by Jake Ballis and National Basketball Association player Rashard Lewis.

 

Racing in second, just off of the comfortable pace of :48.39 set by Call Me George for the half-mile, Bill Mott-trained Cigar Street took over after six furlongs was run in 1:12.12 and never looked back under jockey Shaun Bridgmohan.

 

"He's a big, powerful horse," Bridgmohan said. "I'm just happy they selected me to ride him. Bill and the owners Jake and Rashard, they're great. We had a perfect trip. All I had to do was be a mere passenger."

 

After winning the Skip Away Stakes (gr. III) at Gulfstream Park March 30 of last year, Cigar Street was injured and didn't return to the races until Aug. 22, when he was caught late, finishing second behind Pick of the Litter in an optional claimer at Saratoga Race Course.

 

"He ran huge," Ballis said. "It was everything we could have hoped for. From being injured for so long, it's frustrating, especially when you know you have one of the better horses. He had a condular fracture after the Skip Away and kept having minor setbacks, but we're so happy that we've got him back and that he's healthy and today was awesome.

 

"Bill Mott is one of the best horsemen in the world. He's been patient with him and we just kind of give him the keys and let him drive because we have so much faith in him. I'd obviously love to go to the Breeders' Cup, but we're just going to enjoy this win and talk with Bill and we'll see what happens."

 

The connections would have to decide between the $1 million Dirt Mile (gr. I) or the $5 million Classic (gr. I) in the Breeders' Cup World Championships to be held Oct. 31-Nov. 1 at Santa Anita Park.

 

"It most definitely was a slam dunk," Lewis said. "But I'm a three-point shooter, so I'm going to say a three-point shot—it was three points not two points. Just the fact that he got the win was big and very important to us. Even though it was only his second race back, we think he's continuing to get better every race out. We want to take it one step at a time, and today was really big for us."

 

Cigar Street covered 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.86 while returning $6.80, $3.40, and $3 as the second choice.

 

Departing returned $3 and $2.60, while Call Me George returned $4 as the longest shot on the board at 35-1. Pick of the Litter, Carve and Perfect Title completed the order of finish.

 

Cigar Street, who won for the fifth time from eight career starts, was bred in Kentucky by Marvin Delfiner, Ted Folkerth and Brookdale out of the Deputy Minister mare Arcadiana. A $130,000 purchase by Hidden Brook Farm from the Niall Brennan Stables consignment at the 2011 Keeneland April sale of 2-year-olds in training, he has five wins and a second from eight starts, with earnings of $283,908.