Cigar Mile and Remsen Stakes Preview and Top Contenders
by Patricia Woo | Nov 23 2009
Your Thanksgiving weekend just got more exciting with great
horse betting opportunities in two of Aqueduct's biggest year-end stakes happening on Saturday, Nov. 28 in Ozone Park, NY. The $300,000 Gr. 1 Hill ‘n' Dale Cigar Mile Handicap for 3-year-olds and up is up first, followed by the $200,000 Gr. 2 Remsen Stakes, a 1 1/8-mile test for 2-year-olds.
Looking to cash in on the winner's share of the Cigar Mile Handicap's $300,000 purse as well as one of the last Grade 1 titles up for grabs in 2009 are a slew of horses who have had excellent campaigns this year. France-based Bribon captured the Gr. 1 Shadwell Metropolitan Mile in May, his biggest career win so far. After racing on Pro-Ride in his fifth-place finish in the $1M Woodbine Mile in September, he should relish a return to dirt. Owned by Marc Keller and trained by Robert Ribaudo, the 6-year-old gelding finished third in this race last year and will be looking to move up; he has a record of 7-4-0-0 and $543,053 in earnings in 2009.
Also probable is Kodiak Kowboy, who was taken out of consideration for the
Breeders' Cup Sprint earlier in November because of mucus in his lungs; the Gr. 1 Vosburgh Stakes-winning 4-year-old is headed to retirement at the end of this year, and trainer Steve Asmussen will be looking for his charge to go out on top. He already has a Grade 1 win at Aqueduct this year - the $300,000 Carter Handicap in April - and has matured throughout this season, which should overshadow the fifth-place finish he had to settle for in the Cigar Mile Handicap last year.
Godophin's Vineyard Haven, Todd Pletcher's Munnings (who has finished third in his last three outings) and the speedy Driven By Success are also scheduled to line up; Pletcher's Quality Road, who was slightly injured while refusing to load into the gate at the
Breeders' Cup Classic and was subsequently scratched, is unlikely.
The Remsen Stakes for 2-year-olds offers bettors an excellent horse wagering opportunity as well as a sneak preview of some of potential 2010 Kentucky Derby contenders. Homeboykris is one of those up-and-comers, coming off a sparkling win in the $400,000 Gr. 1 Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park; the Remsen Stakes will be his second race for Rick Dutrow, Jr. Looking for his first win of 2009 is Fudge Truffle, a gelded son of Candy Ride who is trained by Kenneth Marshall. He has been steadily improving, turning in a rallying runner-up performance in a maiden special weight race on Nov. 6 at Remington Park. And the Bruce Levine-trained Buddy's Saint, this year's $150,000 Gr. 2 Nashua Stakes champion, is also slated to line up. Disqualified in his previous maiden attempt, Buddy's Saint finally found the winner's circle with a 12-length win. Also probable for the Remsen Stakes are Grand Rapport and Peppi Knows.
Don't miss out on any of the Holiday Fest betting action!
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