Blinkers back on for Tonalist in Cigar Mile

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – After toying with, but ultimately rejecting, the idea of adding blinkers to Tonalist’s equipment for the Breeders’ Cup Classic, trainer Christophe Clement said he will put blinkers on Tonalist for Saturday’s Grade 1 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct.

John Velazquez will ride Tonalist in the Cigar Mile.

“Just because going a mile, I think you need to help him a little,” Clement said Monday at Belmont Park. “Just to help Johnny give him a touch more cruising speed.”

Clement has twice before put blinkers on Tonalist, and the move has worked. As a 3-year-old last year, Tonalist put blinkers on for his maiden victory going 1 1/8 miles at Gulfstream Park. When Tonalist returned to the races this year, Clement added blinkers, and Tonalist won the Grade 3 Westchester going a one-turn mile. He took the blinkers off prior to the Grade 2 Suburban, and the horse lost by a nose to Effinex.

Well before Tonalist won this year’s Jockey Club Gold Cup, his final race before the Breeders’ Cup, Clement had thought about putting blinkers on him for the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland. Clement was concerned that Tonalist might have to stay closer to the pace at Keeneland. But because Tonalist ran such a dynamic race in winning the Jockey Club Gold Cup by 4 3/4 lengths without blinkers, Clement left them off for the Classic.

While American Pharoah ran away with the Classic, Tonalist finished fifth without a plausible excuse.

“It is a bit of a mystery,” Clement said Monday. “After the race, I was convinced I was going to find some issue to explain the performance, and I have not. He’s very sound.”

Tonalist wore blinkers last Saturday when he worked in company with Red Vine, whom Clement also is running in the Cigar Mile.

Entries for the Cigar Mile and the three other graded stakes on Saturday’s card – the Grade 2 Remsen, Grade 2 Demoiselle, and Grade 3 Comely – are to be drawn Wednesday. Only six are expected for the Cigar Mile, including Private Zone, Matrooh, Mshawish, and Full of Mine.

Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said Monday that Marking is “very doubtful” for the Cigar Mile, believing it’s asking too much too soon of the colt, who has won both of his starts. McLaughlin said that Marking and Watershed, who is 2 for 3, are both candidates to face Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Runhappy in the Grade 1 Malibu at Santa Anita on Dec. 26.