OZONE PARK, N.Y. - The New York-bred Americanrevolution handled a step up in class and a cutback in distance as he ran down stablemate Following Sea to win the Grade 1, $750,000 Cigar Mile by a half-length, capping a sensational Saturday for trainer Todd Pletcher, who won three graded stakes at Aqueduct. Pletcher, who won his fifth Cigar Mile - and he also trains Following Sea - also won the Grade 2 Remsen with Mo Donegal and the Grade 2 Demoiselle with Nest. In all three races, Pletcher’s horses had to withstand an inquiry and/or objection from a vanquished foe. In the Cigar Mile, Americanrevolution, ridden by Luis Saez, bumped with Plainsman at the three-sixteenths pole. Plainsman, under Manny Franco, claimed foul. It appeared as though Americanrevolution was coming in and Plainsman was coming out simultaneously. The two horses were behind Following Sea and Ginobili at that point of the race. :: Bet the races with confidence on DRF Bets. You're one click away from the only top-rated betting platform fully integrated with exclusive data, analytics, and expert picks. “I feel like Manny tried to come out and tried to push me away and wanted my spot, but I was in my lane and it looked like [Ginobili] came out a little bit too,” Saez said. Said Franco: “I was in between and I think it was 50-50. The horse closed in on me a little bit, but my horse ran a great race.” Americanrevolution, a son of Constitution, was coming out of a dominant win against New York-breds in the $250,000 Empire Classic on Oct. 30. Earlier this year, he won the Albany Stakes by five lengths and then stepped up into Grade 1 company, finishing third behind Hot Rod Charlie and Midnight Bourbon in the Pennsylvania Derby. That performance at least showed Pletcher the horse could compete in Grade 1 company. His concern entering the Cigar Mile was the cutback to a one-turn mile. It was the shortest distance he had run since he won a six-furlong race against New York-breds by a neck. “We weren’t 100 percent positive about the mile, but a lot of times good horses do multiple things really well,” Pletcher said. “I think he’s a great example of that.” Down the backstretch, Americanrevolution was fifth, in between horses, while Following Sea set the pace, stalked by Ginobili. The pair went an opening half-mile in 46.04 seconds. Saez had to really ride Americanrevolution to keep his position, but he responded to the urging and was third leaving the three-eighths pole. In the stretch, Following Sea was passed by Ginobili, but then came back to regain the lead by the eighth pole. Americanrevolution, once Saez got him to switch leads, kept charging to run Following Sea down. “When he came to the three-eighths, he was a little bit off the bit, I had to start riding a little bit to get the momentum at the top of the stretch,” Saez said. “When he switched leads, he gave me that kick and I knew I could win the race.” Americanrevolution, owned by China Horse Club and WinStar Farm, covered the mile in 1:36.68 and returned $7.50 to win. “Luis rode him terrifically, he kept him going on the turn. He was in some traffic and things were getting a little tight,” Pletcher said. “He responds to an energetic ride. He never gave up on him, which is important especially backing up to a mile and an eighth.” Following Sea, third in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, ran a very solid race to be second, 2 1/2 lengths clear of Plainsman. Olympiad was fourth, followed by Code of Honor, Ginobili, Independence Hall, and Pipeline. “It looked like Ginobili passed him and he kept finding a little more,” Pletcher said of Following Sea. “It was a big effort.” Pletcher said Americanrevolution will head to WinStar Farm in Kentucky for a break before likely joining him at some point during the winter at Palm Beach Downs. He said he would point him to races longer than a mile in 2022.