The Grade 2, $500,000 Cigar Mile on Dec. 7 tops an Aqueduct fall stakes program that will offer 26 stakes worth $5.33 million, the New York Racing Association announced Friday.
The Aqueduct fall meet runs from Nov. 7 through Dec. 29.
The Cigar Mile tops a card that also includes the Grade 2, $250,000 Remsen and Grade 2, $250,000 Demoiselle for 2-year-old males and 2-year-old fillies, respectively, as well as the Grade 3, $200,000 Go for Wand Handicap for fillies and mares 3-years-old-and up.
Del Mar is likely to finish its summer meeting on Sept. 8 with a decline in all-sources handle for the 31-day season compared to the summer of 2023, with a changed racing schedule and a new format in the pick six contributing to lower figures.
Track chief financial officer Mike Ernst said on Thursday that Del Mar is unlikely to match the all-sources handle of $529.1 million from last summer.
“We’re likely going to be down just slightly,” Ernst said.
Weekend workouts will determine whether the 5-year-old mare Adare Manor or even the 3-year-old Muth start in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Aug. 31.
Trainer Bob Baffert said on Friday that he plans to run the multiple stakes winner Reincarnate in the $1 million Pacific Classic at 1 1/4 miles, and said decisions are forthcoming on Muth or Adare Manor.
“They’re breezing this weekend and then we’ll see,” he said.
Muth is also nominated for the $125,000 Shared Belief Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile on Sept. 1.
Senor Buscador, winner of the $20 million Saudi Cup in Saudi Arabia, and The Chosen Vron, California’s star sprinter, are part of a field of eight in Saturday’s Grade 2 Pat O’Brien Stakes at Del Mar.
The seven-furlong race has drawn a solid field despite the absence of the Grade 1 winner Arabian Knight, who was considered a candidate for the $250,000 race as recently as last weekend before he was retired and sent to a farm in Kentucky earlier this week.
Subsanador, winner of the Grade 3 Philip H. Iselin Stakes at Monmouth Park last Saturday, is booked to run in the Grade 1 California Crown at Santa Anita on Sept. 28, a race that will help to determine plans for the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar on Nov. 2
Trainer Richard Mandella said on Wednesday that the BC Dirt Mile and BC Classic at 1 1/4 miles are possibilities for Subsanador.
“Right now, I wouldn’t know which would be better,” Mandella said. “We’ll see how the next race goes.”
Santa Anita Derby winner Stronghold is scheduled to have his next start in the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing on Sept. 21 instead of the $125,000 Shared Belief Stakes at Del Mar on Sept. 1.
Trainer Phil D’Amato said on Wednesday that the $1 million purse of the Pennsylvania Derby is a leading factor in the decision.
“I’d say there is a very good chance we’ll wait for the Pennsylvania Derby,” D’Amato said.
Louie the Sun King could go favored Friday when he makes his first start against older rivals in the featured eighth race at Gulfstream Park.
A field of 10 has signed on for the first-level allowance for 3-year-olds and up bred in Florida. It will be run over 5 1/2 furlongs on Tapeta.
Louie the Sun King has stepped up his game since moving to the synthetic track. He won a $35,000 starter allowance on Tapeta in May, and has come back and run second in two subsequent starts on the surface, on June 28 and July 28.
Saffie Joseph Jr., who is the runaway leader in the trainer standings at Gulfstream with 88 wins through Tuesday, has a pair of recent maiden winners pointing for the first leg of the Florida Sire Stakes.
He said Neoequos will likely make his next start in the $100,000 Dr. Fager division for 2-year-old colts and geldings, while R Morning Brew is probable for the $100,000 Desert Vixen division for 2-year-old fillies. Both races will be run over six furlongs on Sept. 7 at Gulfstream.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Scylla, coming off two graded stakes wins around two turns and a second to Adare Manor in the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch on Aug. 3 at Del Mar, was a surprise entrant in Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Ballerina Handicap.
