all in The Sport

There are some stakes that have names which do not seem to fit. Like a seven-furlong sprint stakes being named after trainer Woody Stephens, who won the 1 ½-mile Belmont Stakes five years in a row. Yet the Cigar Mile Handicap fits like a glove since the mighty Cigar won the race back in 1994 when it was known by its original name of the NYRA Mile.

The TVG Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance may have decided who will be crowned the champion of the 2-year-old division, yet a race like the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes can also have an impact on next year’s Triple Crown trail.

The $250,000 Cigar Mile Handicap at Aqueduct typically is the last race of the season with the status to make an impact on the Eclipse Awards for older males or 3-year-olds, whether that be the champion older male, sprint, or 3-year-old division.

Making the Grade, which will run through the 2021 Triple Crown races, focuses on the winners or top performers of the key races, usually from the previous weekend, who could make an impact on the Triple Crown. We’ll be taking a close look at impressive winners and evaluating their chances to win classic races based upon ability, running style, connections (owner, trainer, jockey), and pedigree.

The 2019 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita Park surprisingly became a negative key race, one generating few follow-up winners, but already the 2020 TVG Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance from Keeneland is productive.

newsletter sign-up

Stay up-to-date with the best from America's Best Racing!

Request Information

Please fill out the form below to request information about race horse ownership.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Instagram TikTok YouTube
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Instagram TikTok YouTube