Stewart hopes to continue roll in Cigar

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The roll that trainer Dallas Stewart has been on the last four weeks actually began Oct. 28 at Belmont Park, when Tom’s Ready turned in the performance of his life winning the Bold Ruler Handicap.

Stewart knows Tom’s Ready will have to bring every bit of that effort if he is to end his career a Grade 1 winner when he runs in Saturday’s $750,000 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct.

A field from between 11 and 13 runners is expected for the Cigar Mile when entries are taken and post positions drawn Wednesday. Tom’s Ready will face the likes of Sharp Azteca, Practical Joke, and Mind Your Biscuits in the one-turn mile race.

“That’s a bunch of nice horses, man,” Stewart said Sunday from Churchill Downs. “It’s been a long year for some of the horses in the race, but those horses have proven they’re very good.”

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Tom’s Ready was very good in the Bold Ruler, rallying from off the pace under Joel Rosario to beat Stallwalkin’ Dude by three-quarters of a length. Stallwalkin’ Dude came back to win the Grade 3 Fall Highweight Handicap on Thanksgiving. Tom’s Ready, who will retire to Spendthrift Farm after Saturday’s race, earned a career-best 107 Beyer Speed Figure for his effort, putting the proverbial bounce theory in play.

“I ain’t worried about any bouncing,” Stewart said. “He’s eating good, he looks good, he’s feeling good. It’s going to be a tough race.”

Though Stewart’s recent Grade 1 victories in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff and Clark Handicap came for owner Charles Fipke, he will send out Tom’s Ready for the G M B Racing Stable of Tom Benson and his wife, Gayle Marie Benson. As the owner of the NFL’s New Orleans Saints, Benson has been on a bit of a roll himself as the Saints had won eight straight games before a loss Sunday to the Rams.

Mike Smith is coming from California to ride Tom’s Ready, who was assigned 118 pounds, seven fewer than assigned highweight Sharp Azteca (125). Mind Your Biscuits (122) and Practical Joke (120) are the second and third highweights, respectively.

Others expected to enter include Calculator (117), Neolithic (117), Seymourdini (117), Americanize (116), Just Call Kenny (115), Beasley (114), and Summer Revolution (114). Tale of S’avall (115) and Vulcan’s Forge (114) also are possible.