Cigar Mile tops Aqueduct fall stakes slate

Topped by the Grade 1 Cigar Mile, Aqueduct will offer 24 stakes worth $4.9 million during its upcoming fall meet, which begins on Oct. 29 and runs through Dec. 31, the New York Racing Association announced over the weekend.

The stakes schedule virtually mirrors that of previous fall meets, with the exception of three new $100,000 stakes for New York-breds – the Notebook and Key Cents for 2-year-old sprinting males and females, respectively, on Nov. 16, and the Bay Ridge for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on Dec. 31.

The Cigar Mile has a base purse of $500,000, but as was the case last year there will be incentives that would enable some horses to run for more money. A Grade 1 winner that competes in the Cigar Mile would be running for the winner’s share of $750,000. A winner of a Breeders’ Cup race would run for the winner’s share of $1 million. Last year, the Cigar Mile was won by Flat Out, who was a Grade 1 winner entering the race.

The Cigar Mile tops a Nov. 29 card that includes the Remsen and Demoiselle, Grade 2, $400,000 stakes for juvenile males and females, respectively, as well as the Grade 3, $400,000 Comely Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

As usual, the Grade 3, $300,000 Fall Highweight will highlight the Thanksgiving Day card and the Grade 3, $300,000 Go for Wand Handicap will be run the day after Thanksgiving.

The stakes portion of the meet begins on Nov. 1 with the Grade 3, $200,000 Discovery for 3-year-olds, which is being targeted as the return for Honor Code, last year’s Remsen Stakes winner.

Other graded events include the Grade 2, $250,000 Nashua and Grade 3, $100,000 Tempted, for 2-year-old males and females, respectively, on Nov. 2; the Grade 3, $200,000 Long Island on Nov. 8; and the Grade 3, $250,000 Red Smith on Nov. 15.