Connect, Economic Model get chance to shine in Cigar Mile

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Neither Connect nor Economic Model was a marquee 3-year-old on the Belmont Stakes Day program five months ago. Both are serious contenders to have their name up in lights at the conclusion of Saturday’s card at Aqueduct.

Connect and Economic Model are part of a triple threat that trainer Chad Brown brings to Saturday’s $500,000 Cigar Mile, the last of 10 races on a four-stakes program and the final Grade 1 event run on the New York Racing Association circuit in 2016.

The Cigar Mile, which drew a field of 10, tops a card that includes the Remsen and Demoiselle – Grade 2, $300,000 stakes for juveniles and juvenile fillies, respectively – and the Grade 3, $250,000 Comely Stake for 3-year-old fillies. First post Saturday is 11:50 a.m. Eastern.

Connect, owned by Paul Pompa Jr., is 4 for 6 in his career with excuses for his two defeats. He finished third in his debut last December here but afterward needed surgery to remove an ankle chip. He finished sixth in the Grade 1 Travers at Saratoga, 21 3/4 lengths behind winner Arrogate, but was found with a lung infection afterward.

His four wins include the Grade 2 Pennsylvania Derby last out at Parx, which was his second win going 1 1/8 miles around two turns. He is cutting back to a one-turn mile here, but his first two victories this season came in one-turn races, including a 3 3/4-length allowance win on the Belmont Stakes undercard.

“I think he can handle one turn fine,” Brown said. “His allowance race at Belmont was very impressive. He’s a very versatile horse who is training exceptionally well.”

Connect, who figures to be an up-close stalker, breaks from post 7 under Javier Castellano.

Economic Model won the Easy Goer on the Belmont Stakes undercard and finished second in the Dwyer, a one-turn mile at Belmont in July. In two starts since adding blinkers, Economic Model has finished second to Drefong in the Grade 1 King’s Bishop and third in the Grade 3 Bold Ruler behind Stallwalkin’ Dude. In both races, Economic Model was stuck down on the inside for a good portion of the race. That could happen again Saturday as he breaks from post 2 under Joel Rosario.

“Economic Model prefers to get to the outside,” Brown said.

Threefiveindia will be the longest price of Brown’s trio, but he has more than a puncher’s chance. He was third after stumbling at the start of the Gallant Bob at Parx and then finished second, two lengths ahead of Economic Model, in the Bold Ruler.

“He’s not impossible to win here,” Brown said. “He’s training very well. He’s a strong, fast horse that continues to improve with each week that goes by.”

Anchor Down looks to give trainer Todd Pletcher his fifth Cigar Mile victory. A 5-year-old son of Tapit, Anchor Down has developed into a one-turn-mile specialist, having posted victories in the Grade 3 Westchester and Grade 2 Kelso at Belmont this year. The 121-pound highweight, Anchor Down will attempt to take the field gate to wire from the rail under Jose Ortiz.

Barclay Tagg, a two-time Cigar Mile winner, sends out recent allowance winners Tale of S’avall, a son of 2008 Cigar Mile winner Tale of Ekati, and Realm, a son of 2010 Cigar Mile runner-up Haynesfield.

Divining Rod cuts back to a one-turn mile for the first time since winning his maiden two years ago at Laurel. Trainer Arnaud Delacour will equip the 4-year-old with blinkers.

Ocean Knight, War Story, and Mylute complete the field.

KEY CONTENDERS

Connect, by Curlin

Last 3 Beyers: 103-93-101

◗ Makes his first start in nine weeks but has run well fresh, having captured the Curlin Stakes off a seven-week layoff and his maiden off a six-month layoff.

◗ Had a lung infection when sixth to Arrogate in the Travers. Arrogate subsequently won the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

◗ Shows a series of steady works for this race.

Economic Model, by Flatter

Last 3 Beyers: 95-97-95

◗ He has never been worse than third in seven one-turn races and should relish the one-turn mile.

◗ Will have to negotiate a trip from post 2.

Anchor Down, by Tapit

Last 3 Beyers: 108-93-98

◗ Comes off a career-best effort in winning the Kelso at Belmont, running a mile in 1:32.90. Tamarkuz, the runner-up, came back to win the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.

“Any time you run a sub-1:33 mile, which he was able to do, it’s a serious race,” Pletcher said.

◗ He is 0 for 3 when breaking from the rail, but two of those races came at shorter distances.

“I think in a one-turn-mile situation where we’re likely the main speed or certainly one of the speeds, it’s okay,” Pletcher said.

Threefiveindia, by Street Hero

Last 3 Beyers: 99-97-98

◗ The one-mile distance may be the biggest question for this improving 3-year-old, who has run well in two defeats going seven furlongs.

◗ Brown is targeting the Malibu – a Grade 1 race for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs at Santa Anita on Dec. 26 – for this colt but said he’d rather run him than train him up to that race.