Cigar Street runs for first time in 17 months

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Cigar Street was well on his way to becoming a major player in the older male division last year when he was sidelined by injury. Away from the races for 17 months, Cigar Street returns to the races Friday at Saratoga in a $93,000, third-level allowance race at 1 1/8 miles.

Cigar Street, a 5-year-old son of Street Sense, was transferred to Bill Mott in 2012 after he won one of three starts for Steve Margolis. Cigar Street won allowance races at Gulfstream in December 2012 and February 2013 before defeating the Grade 1 winner Take Charge Indy in the Grade 3 Skip Away Stakes on March 30, 2013. He has not raced since.

“He had a hind ankle bugging him when I stopped on him, and they were bringing him back and had some other issues with him on the farm,” Mott said. “The hind ankle seems good. Everything seems good on him now.”

While Mott said the 1 1/8 miles is a suitable distance for Cigar Street, he added that “it’s just a long trip for a horse that’s been off that long.”

“I’d say I’d just as soon run him a mile and an eighth as a flat mile,” he said. “I think the pace of the race suits him a little better going a mile and an eighth than a mile.”

Cigar Street shows eight works since July 1, including a pair of six-furlong moves over the Oklahoma training track.

Cigar Street, owned by NBA player Rashard Lewis and Jake Ballis, will take on a group that includes Qualify, Pick of the Litter, New York-bred stakes winner Awesome Vision, and the David Jacobson-trained entry of Praetereo and Spa City Fever.