Fair Grounds: Cigar Street sharpens for Louisiana Derby

Cigar Street, a blowout two-turn Fair Grounds maiden winner in his most recent race, green-lighted his entry into next Sunday’s $1 million Louisiana Derby with a good five-furlong workout in 1:01.20 Sunday morning.

“Our main question was how was he going to look doing it, and I think the question was answered,” trainer Steve Margolis said Sunday morning. “Right now, all systems are go. We’re going to enter tomorrow.”

Cigar Street finished fifth in a very troubled debut before leading all the way en route to a 13 ¾-length victory while making his second career start on March 10. The relatively short time between that race and the April 1 Louisiana Derby had led Cigar Street’s connections to consider other stakes races in coming weeks.

Working under Shaun Bridgmohan, Cigar Street started his drill at a moderate tempo but finished fast, Margolis said, with a final quarter-mile in about 23 seconds. Cigar Street galloped out six furlongs in a little more than r 1:15 and seven furlongs in about 1:29, according to Margolis.

“He did it very easy, barely drank any water back at the barn,” said Margolis.