Plainsman will try to add Cigar Mile to Cox's string of big New York wins

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – This year, trainer Brad Cox has won the Belmont Stakes, Travers, and Whitney, three of the biggest prizes on the New York Racing Association circuit. Saturday, Cox will attempt to snag the last Grade 1 stakes offered in New York in 2021 when he sends out Plainsman in the $750,000 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct.

Plainsman won’t be favored like Essential Quality was in the Belmont and Travers or Knicks Go was in the Whitney, but he is in with a chance against the likes of Independence Hall, Following Sea, and Code of Honor.

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Plainsman, who three years ago won the Grade 3 Discovery here, has won four of his last six starts, including the Grade 3 Ack Ack going a one-turn mile at Churchill Downs. Last out, he finished third going seven furlongs in the Grade 3 Bold Ruler Handicap at Belmont as the even-money favorite.

“I thought that he had a little bit of a troubled trip just because we asked him to be a little more forward than he naturally wants to be and it got him a little aggressive,” Cox said. “Running seven-eighths you can’t be in a tangle between the half-mile pole and three-eighths. He was in a tight spot and never got comfortable.”

Manny Franco rides Plainsman in the Cigar Mile from post 2. Drawn inside of Plainsman is Following Sea, the third-place finisher in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Outside of Plainsman, in post order, are Americanrevolution, Code of Honor, Independence Hall, Ginobili, Olympiad, and Pipeline.

The Cigar Mile will go as the last of 10 races on a card that begins at 11:50 a.m.