Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Contact: Jenny Kellner
BRIBON BACK FOR THIRD TRY IN HILL ‘N’ DALE CIGAR MILE
Beaten less than a length by eventual Sprint Champion Kodiak Kowboy when second in last year’s running, Bribon was a close-up third behind Tale of Ekati and Harlem Rocker in the previous year’s race, his first Grade 1 appearance in
Rather than put up the $180,000 supplemental fee to run, trainer Todd Pletcher and owner Derrick Smith elected to skip the trip to Kentucky and point toward the Cigar Mile, for which the gelding prepped with a victory in the Grade 3 Bold Ruler on October 30.
“I think the Cigar Mile is always a very difficult race to win,” said Pletcher, who saddled Purge, Lion Tamer, and
John Velazquez rides Bribon, the 3-1 second choice on the morning line, from post position 3.
Jumping into the fray as well is a quartet of Breeders’ Cup veterans looking to end their 2010 campaigns on a high note. Girolamo, Vineyard Haven, and Haynesfield – Grade 1 winners all – as well as Musket Man, who came within a nose of winning the Grade 1 Carter at the Big A during the spring, will try to regroup in the Cigar Mile after disappointing outings at Churchill Downs earlier this month.
Vosburgh winner Girolamo placed 11th as the favorite in the Sprint, Vineyard Haven came home sixth in the Dirt Mile, and Musket Man was seventh in the Classic, in which Haynesfield, winner of the Jockey Club Gold Cup, finished 11th.
Godolphin Racing assistant trainer Rick Mettee is hopeful both Girolamo and Vineyard Haven will get better trips in the Cigar Mile, for which the entry was tabbed as the 5-2 choice on the morning line.
“[In the Breeders’ Cup] Girolamo got an inside draw in a big field,” said Mettee. “Hopefully the mile will suit him a little better.
“Vineyard Haven was drawn outside and stalked a very fast pace,” he added. “He’s another one who should pull a better trip.”
Girolamo, with Alan Garcia up, drew the rail while Vineyard Haven will leave from post position 4 under David Cohen.
The Classic marked the first start outside his home state for the New York-bred Haynesfield, who is 9-1-1 in 13 starts at Aqueduct,
“He didn’t run at all in the Breeders’ Cup,” said assistant Toby Sheets, who oversees trainer Steve Asmussen’s
Javier Castellano rides the 4-year-old Speightstown colt, 7-2 on the morning line, from post 5.
Musket Man’s Classic performance marked the first time he has finished worse than third in 15 career starts. Second to
“A mile to 1 1/16 miles is his best distance, but we decided to take a shot in the Classic,” said Derek Ryan, who trains Musket Man for Eric Fein. “He came out of the race well, and this is the last Grade 1 race.”
Friend Or Foe, one of two 3-year-olds in the field along with Soaring Empire, ventures back into open company after posting an eye-catching five-length victory against fellow New York-breds in the Empire Classic at
Around one turn, the
“I wouldn’t trade places with anyone,” said John Kimmel, who trains Friend Or Foe for
Alex Solis rides Friend Or Foe, 8-1 on the morning line.
Rounding out the field are the second and third-place finishers in the Bold Ruler –
Jersey Town, who will attempt to give trainer Barclay Tagg and owner Charles Fipke, who won the 2008 Cigar Mile with Tale of Ekati, their second victory in the race, and Half Metal Jacket.
| Prog. No. PP | Horse | Jockey | Wgt | Trainer | Odds |
| 1 1 | Girolamo (KY) | A Garcia | 120 | S bin Suroor | 5-2 |
| 1a 4 | Vineyard Haven (FL) | D Cohen | 119 | S bin Suroor | 5-2 |
| 2 2 | Soaring Empire | Edgar Prado | 114 | C Gambolati | 20-1 |
| 3 3 | Bribon (FR) | J Velazquez | 119 | T Pletcher | 3-1 |
| 4 5 | Haynesfield (NY) | J Castellano | 120 | S M Asmussen | 7-2 |
| 5 6 | | C H Velasquez | 114 | B Tagg | 12-1 |
| 6 7 | Friend Or Foe (NY) | A O Solis | 115 | J C Kimmel | 8-1 |
| 7 8 | Musket Man (KY) | R Maragh | 117 | D S Ryan | 5-1 |
| 8 9 | Half Metal Jacket (FL) | F Jara | 115 | R R Rodriguez | 12-1 |
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