Seymourdini looks set for Cigar Mile

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Linda Rice has been thinking about the Grade 1 Cigar Mile for Seymourdini for months. Though there were a few bumps along the road, Seymourdini has seemingly arrived at his destination in good shape.

On Friday, Seymourdini worked six furlongs in 1:14.44 over the Belmont Park training track in preparation for the $750,000 Cigar Mile next Saturday. In a move that began at the half-mile pole, Seymourdini went a quarter in 24.80 seconds, the half-mile in 48.97, and got his final quarter, which went around the turn, in 25.47.

“He went nice and even, I was happy with it,” said Linda Rice, who waited until after the 9:30 a.m. break to work Seymourdini.

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Seymourdini won the State Dinner Stakes by 10 1/2 lengths July 3 at Belmont Park, capping a three-race streak that also had him post allowance wins at Laurel Park by 12 1/4 and 13 1/2 lengths. It was after the State Dinner that Rice began thinking about the Cigar Mile, but she wasn’t sure how best to get there. A minor issue in the summer forced her to scrap any thought of running in Saratoga.

Seymourdini returned in the Grade 3 Bold Ruler Handicap on Oct. 28 at Belmont, where he finished fourth, beaten only 1 3/4 lengths, in a race where he was last, 8 3/4 lengths back at the eighth pole. He galloped out about 10 lengths or more past the field after the wire under Jose Ortiz.

“Around the turn, Jose was asking him and he just didn’t engage,” Rice said. “He ran green into the dirt. He has so much natural speed, it was foreign territory for him. He didn’t engage until the eighth pole. I wasn’t disappointed in the horse, I was disappointed in the trip. I think he could have won with a better trip.”

Seymourdini was one of four potential Cigar Mile starters who put in workouts Friday morning at Belmont. Beasley, who finished third in the Bold Ruler, worked a half-mile by himself in 48.09 over the main track. It was the fastest of 16 moves at the distance.

Neolithic, second in the Fayette Stakes, worked a half-mile in 48.68 in company with Vulcan’s Forge, who is listed as a possible starter. Both horses are trained by Todd Pletcher.

Entries for the Cigar Mile will be made Wednesday. Others expected to enter the Cigar Mile are Americanize, Calculator, Mind Your Biscuits, Practical Joke, Sharp Azteca, Summer Revolution, Tale of S’avall, and Tom’s Ready.