Field coming together for Cigar Mile

Ozone Park, NY (SportsNetwork.com) – A highly competitive field, including champion sprinter Groupie Doll, is coming together for the $500,000 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct on Saturday, Nov. 30.

Groupie Doll, recently bought by Mandy Pope’s Whisper Hill Farm, will attempt to avenge last year’s nose defeat to Stay Thirsty in the main track event. Trained by Buff Bradley, the 5-year-old mare is coming off her second straight victory in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint on Nov. 2 at Santa Anita.

“Obviously, she won $2.4 million, she’s a champion, maybe a champion two years in a row,” Pope said when she bought the mare. “She’s elegant. She was calm and cool, nothing ever ruffled a feather whatsoever with her. She just sits there royally and regally taking everything in stride “

Expected to join Groupie Doll in the Cigar are Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Goldencents and stablemate Private Zone, winner of the Vosburgh at Belmont Park on Sept. 28; King’s Bishop winner Capo Bastone, Wood Memorial and Haskell champ Verrazano and Forty Tales, all trained by Todd Pletcher; Woodward winner Alpha; Bold Ruler Handicap champ Clearly Now; and Suburban Handicap winner Flat Out. Saratoga Snacks, winner of the Empire Classic, is possible.

Any previous Grade 1 winner who competes in the Cigar Mile will race for a gross purse of $750,000. Should a winner of any Breeders’ Cup race from any year take part, he or she would be running for a purse of $1 million.

Categorized in: Horses