Belmont Park

Cigar Mile probable next start for Connect

David Grening|Oct 04, 2016

Barbara D. Livingston Sam Elliott, director of racing at Parx, Elliott is hoping that the quality of the field for this year’s Pennsylvania Derby, won by Connect, will earn the race a Grade 1 ranking from the American Graded Stakes Committee when it meets later this year.

Connect, winner of the Grade 2, $1.25 million Pennsylvania Derby at Parx on Sept. 24, will likely make his next start in the Grade 1, $500,000 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct on Nov. 26, trainer Chad Brown said.

Brown said the Breeders' Cup Classic is not a race he and owner Paul Pompa Jr. are focused on. Brown said the BC Dirt Mile is a possibility as is the Grade 1 Clark at Churchill Downs on Nov. 25, but the Cigar Mile appears to be Brown's preference.

"Our first choice is probaby to freshen the horse up for the Cigar Mile," Brown said. "Horse has had plenty of racing this summer, he's fit, and he'll benefit from a little freshening."

Connect, a son of Curlin, has won 4 of 5 races this year, with his only loss being a sixth-place finish behind runaway winner Arrogate in the Grade 1 Travers on Aug. 27. Connect emerged from the Travers with a lung issue.

He defeated Gun Runner by a half-length in the Pennsylvania Derby and earned a 103 Beyer Speed Figure.

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