Saturday, December 3, 2022

Saturday's Cigar Mile Handicap at Aqueduct "Best Bet" Picks

 

Saturday, Dec. 3

Cigar Mile Handicap – Aqueduct Racetrack

Win: Zandon

The Kentucky-bred three-year colt has Chad Brown as trainer and he races for Jeff Drown. Zandon placed second in the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby at Philadelphia Park on Sept. 24. He also finished third in the Grade 1 Travers Stakes on Aug. 27 at Saratoga Race Course.

As son of Upstart, he has raced on dirt covering one mile plus in his competitive events from Aqueduct to Churchill Downs. On a return trip to Queens, New York, Zandon wins this time around at Aqueduct. 

Place: White Abarrio

White Abarrio is another three-year colt that was bred in Kentucky and he races for Clap Embroidery. Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., he won his first two races this season, including the Grade 1 Florida Derby. White Abarrio finished seventh in the Grade 1 Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park and fifth in the Pennsylvania Derby to close out his summer and fall campaign.

Sired by Race Day, he is mounting a grand return at Aqueduct to race in the Cigar Mile and should finish in the money by taking second place. White Abarrio is too good to finish fourth or worse in this probable field.

Show: Mind Control

This six-year old horse has a long history for competing at New York race tracks, including Aqueduct. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Mind Control finished third in the Grade 1 Carter Handicap at Aqueduct this spring. More a sprinter, he was third at Charles Town in the Classic on Aug. 8 and first at Philadelphia Park in the Dirt Mile on Sept. 24.

Mind Control is a son of Stay Thirsty and he has ties to AP Indy and Storm Bird. Racing the Cigar Mile at Aqueduct, he is set to take third in my book.


Previously posted on ScoresandStats.com

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