Todd Pletcher | Horse Racing Free Tips

Americanrevolution Beats Following Sea To Wire In Cigar Mile

On a day that had its share of inquiries, Americanrevolution survived an inquiry to take the Grade 1 Cigar Mile Handicap at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y. Contact between the winner and Plainsman led to the inquiry, with stewards ultimately deciding to leave the order of finish intact, the son of Constitution victorious over his stablemate Following Sea.

At the break, Pipeline was the fastest out of the gate, but Following Sea, who finished third behind Aloha West in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint at Del Mar Nov. 6, took over the lead as they crossed onto the Aqueduct backstretch. Following Sea maintained his one-length lead until the stretch, when Ginobili made his bid for the lead, taking over briefly as they straightened out into the stretch.

Following Sea fought back, passing Ginobili inside the final eighth of a mile as Plainsman and American Revolution made contact briefly as they made their bids for the front in the stretch. Americanrevolution dug in and took over the lead inside the last sixteenth of a mile, finishing a half-length in front of Following Sea. Plainsman was third, with Olympiad fourth. The inquiry sign went up after the race as stewards looked into contact between Plainsman and Americanrevolution in the stretch, but the results were allowed to stand.

The final time for the one-mile G1 stakes was 1:36.68. Find this race's chart here.

Americanrevolution paid $7.50, $4.10, and $3.30. Following Sea paid $5.10 and $4.10. Plainsman paid $5.60.

“Luis [Saez] rode him terrifically. He kept him going in the turn when he was in traffic and things were getting tight. He responded to an energetic ride. He never gave up on him and I think that was important, especially backing up from the mile and an eighth. He never wanted to take his foot off the peddle. He kept coming and we knew he'd be fit backing up in distance,” trainer Todd Pletcher said after the race.

“We weren't 100 percent positive about the mile, but a lot of times good horses do multiple things really well and I think he's a great example of that. Constitution puts so much determination into his offspring and they're just like he was – very tough horses and versatile. It's great to see him get that Grade 1 win.”

“When he came around the three-eighths he was a little bit off the bit. I had to start riding him to get the momentum and at the top of the stretch, when he switched leads, he gave me that kick. After that, I knew I could win the race but I wasn't sure because I still had Following Sea in front of me and he was battling but in the end, Americanrevolution made his move and he got there,” jockey Luis Saez told the NYRA Press Office after the race.

“I feel like Manny [Franco, aboard Plainsman] tried to come out and he was trying to push me away and wanted my spot, but I was in my lane and it looked like the horse inside came out a little bit too and that's what made it look like that.”

Bred in Kentucky by Fred W. Hertrich III and John D. Fielding, Americanrevolution is out of the Super Saver mare Polly Freeze. He is owned by China Horse Club, Inc. and WinStar Farm LLC. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales, the son of Consitution was purchased by China Horse Club and Maverick Racing for $275,000 at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton New York Saratoga Preferred New York Bred Yearling Sale. With his win in the G1 Cigar Mile, the 3-year-old colt has five wins in six starts in 2021 and career earnings of $944,535.

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Nest Much The Best In Demoiselle Stakes At Aqueduct

Nest overcame a wide trip on both turns to bid for the lead in the stretch of the Demoiselle Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack. The 2-year-old daughter of Curlin took over inside the last sixteenth to win the Grade 2 stakes by a neck over Venti Valentine.

Sitting midpack early, Nest bided her time on the outside of horses as Magic Circle held a one-length lead, with Full Court Felicia and Venti Valentine in second and third down the backstretch at the Ozone Park, N.Y., racetrack. Through a first quarter in :25.05 and a half mile in :50.72, Magic Circle held on to that one-length lead heading into the far turn, as Irad Ortiz Jr. on Nest went four-wide into the stretch.

In the Aqueduct straight, Magic Circle, Venti Valentine, and Nest were three across, as Magic Circle tried to hold on under pressure from her challengers. Ortiz Jr. set Nest down for a drive, taking the lead inside the last sixteenth of a mile. At the wire, Nest was a neck in front of Venti Valentine, with Magic Circle holding on for third.

The final time for the 1 1/8 miles was 1:55.07. Find this race's chart here.

Nest paid$5.50, $3.10, and $2.20. Venti Valentine paid $5.40 and $3.70. Magic Circle paid $3.30.

“There have been some tight finishes and a little drama to go along with it, but I'm thankful to be on the right side of it all. She [Nest] was never able to take over and save much ground, but she got the job done. I'm obviously very happy to be on the winning end,” trainer Todd Pletcher said after the race. “We'll take her to Palm Beach Downs and map out a game plan with Mike [Repole] and the rest of the owners, but she'll get a freshening after this win.”

“She ran a good race today, we were looking forward to the distance and she got the job done today,” Irad Ortiz Jr. told the NYRA Press Office after the Demoiselle. “I knew the seven horse [Magic Circle] was inside and came out. I was just surprised that they claimed foul on me, honestly. I grabbed a hold of my filly, corrected her, went to the left hand and went straight. I didn't do anything to the other horse so I don't know why they claimed foul, but it is what it is.”

Bred in Kentucky by Ashview Farm and Colts Neck Stables, Nest is out of the A.P. Indy mare Marion Ravenwood. She is trained by Todd Pletcher and owned by Repole Stables, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, and Michael House. Consigned by Ashview Farm, Nest was purchased by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Repole Stables for $350,000 at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. With her win in the G2 Demoiselle, the filly has two wins in three starts, for career earnings of $205,000. The victory earns the 2-year-old filly 10 points toward the 2022 Kentucky Oaks, with Venti Valentine receiving four points, Magic Circle two points, and Nostalgic one point.

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Constitution Colt Closes Pick 3, Caps Exacta for Pletcher in Cigar Mile

In Todd we trust.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher completed a graded Pick 3, and an exacta, to close out the card in style at Aqueduct Saturday as the talented New York-bred Americanrevolution (Constitution) reeled in his stablemate and fellow 3-year-old and 'TDN Rising Star' Following Sea (Runhappy) in the GI Cigar Mile H. presented by NYRA Bets.

Coming off an 11 3/4-length drubbing in the Empire Classic H. going 1 1/8 miles around one turn against state-breds in the slop with a gaudy 108 Beyer Speed Figure at Belmont Oct. 30, the tepid 5-2 pick seemed to be spinning his wheels a bit while sitting in between horses in midpack as the rail-drawn Following Sea, a last out third with trouble in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, narrowly showed the way with GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile runner-up Ginobili (Munnings) in hot pursuit through fractions of :23.19 and :46.04.

Under a ride beneath Luis Saez entering the far turn, the CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm colorbearer and $275,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling popped out and got going three deep at the head of the lane, but brushed with Plainsman (Flatter) as that rival tried to force his way out of a spot inside the three-sixteenths. Americanrevolution kept on coming, however, and leveled off nicely with massive strides to forge past his stablemate by a half-length in the shadow of the wire. Plainsman was third. The stewards looked at the aforementioned stretch bumping but made no change.

“Luis [Saez] rode him terrifically,” Pletcher said. “He kept him going in the turn when he was in traffic and things were getting tight. He responded to an energetic ride. He never gave up on him and I think that was important, especially backing up from the mile and an eighth. He never wanted to take his foot off the peddle. He kept coming and we knew he'd be fit backing up in distance.

Pletcher continued, “We weren't 100% positive about the mile, but a lot of times good horses do multiple things really well and I think he's a great example of that. Constitution puts so much determination into his offspring and they're just like he was– very tough horses and versatile. It's great to see him get that Grade I win.”

Americanrevolution kicked off his 3-year-old season with three straight wins, including the New York Derby at Finger Lakes July 19 and Albany S. at Saratoga Aug. 27, all against fellow state-breds. He far from disgraced himself against open company with a solid third-place finish in Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow)'s GI Pennsylvania Derby Sept. 25 before his tour-de-force in the Empire Classic.

“He's a rare horse that when you look at his figures, he's improved every single start of his life,” Pletcher said. “That's great to see. It was a hard-earned win today, but he fought on.

Looking ahead, Pletcher added, “The way he ran the mile and an eighth [in the Albany and Empire Classic] would give you hopes he would be a Classic-type horse. I think the plan is to send him to WinStar now and give him a bit of a freshening.”

Pletcher, who also saddled Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo) (GII Remsen S.) and Nest (Curlin) (GII Demoiselle S.) to wins in the previous two races on the undercard, pulled off the same graded stakes trio sweep in 2012 with Overanalyze, Unlimited Budget and Stay Thirsty, respectively.

Americanrevolution provided Pletcher with a fifth overall Cigar Mile tally after previously saddling Left Bank (2001), Lion Tamer (2004), Purge (2005), and Stay Thirsty (2012) to victories. It was also a second career Cigar Mile exacta for Pletcher, following a one-two finish by Left Bank and Graeme Hall in 2001.

“We felt good coming into today that we had some horses that were training the way you'd want them to be training leading up to a big race,” Pletcher said. “We were excited about the day coming in and it was one of those rare occasions where everything fell into place and everyone ran their race.”

Americanrevolution joins an impressive line-up of 3-year-olds–Forty Niner (1988), Dispersal (1989), Flying Chevron (1995), Gold Fever (1996), El Corredor (2000), Discreet Cat (2006), Daaher (2007), Tale of Ekati (2008), To Honor and Serve (2011), Connect (2016) and Maximum Security (2019)–to defeat their elders in the Cigar Mile, which was previously contested as the NYRA Mile.

Pedigree Notes:

Breeding a Grade I winner is the elusive grail, but Fred W. Hertrich lll and John D. Fielding have reached the pinnacle together two weekends in a row as, in addition to Americanrevolution, last Saturday's GI Hollywood Derby victor Beyond Brilliant (Twirling Candy) was also a product of their program, along with Robert L. Tribbett. The 3-year-olds were foaled just three days apart in their 2018 crop, albeit Americanrevolution in New York and Beyond Brilliant in Kentucky. Both were eventually sold with Americanrevolution fetching $275,000 as a Fasig-Tipton New York yearling from China Horse Club and Maverick Racing.

Hertrich had bought Polly Freeze as a maiden winner at the 2016 Keeneland November sale while she was carrying her first foal, a filly by Wicked Strong. The Super Saver mare also has a placed 2-year-old colt named Bold Journey (Hard Spun), a yearling filly by Collected, and was bred back to Frosted. She is one of three of Super Saver's daughters who have produced a black-type winner. The 14-year-old stallion formerly stood at WinStar but relocated to Turkey for the 2020 season. The Pletcher-trained Constitution, who leads the third-crop sire list, has remained at WinStar. In addition to Americanrevolution, the nine other graded winners among Constitution's 17 stakes winners have included MGISW and fellow New York-bred Tiz the Law.

Saturday, Aqueduct
CIGAR MILE H. PRESENTED BY NYRA BETS-GI, $750,000, Aqueduct, 12-4, 3yo/up, 1m, 1:36.68, ft.
1–AMERICANREVOLUTION, 117, c, 3, by Constitution
1st Dam: Polly Freeze, by Super Saver
2nd Dam: Elusive Gold, by Strike the Gold
3rd Dam: Save My Soul, by I'ma Hell Raiser
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. ($275,000 Ylg '19 SARAUG). O-CHC Inc & WinStar Farm LLC; B-Fred W Hertrich III & John D Fielding (NY); T-Todd A Pletcher; J-Luis Saez. $412,500. Lifetime Record: 7-5-0-1, $944,535. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: A.
2–Following Sea, 119, c, 3, Runhappy–Quick Flip, by Speightstown. 'TDN Rising Star' O/B-Spendthrift Farm LLC (KY); T-Todd A Pletcher. $150,000.
3–Plainsman, 119, h, 6, Flatter–S S Pinafore, by Street Sense.
1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($350,000 Ylg '16 KEESEP). O-Shortleaf Stable Inc; B-Joseph Minor (KY); T-Brad H Cox. $90,000.
Margins: HF, 2HF, 1HF. Odds: 2.75, 3.50, 19.10.
Also Ran: Olympiad, Code of Honor, Ginobili, Independence Hall, Pipeline. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Mo Donegal Wins Narrow Victory Over Zandon In Remsen

With 2022 Kentucky Derby points on the line, Mo Donegal and Zandon battled down the stretch in the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes, with Mo Donegal getting a nose victory over the Chad Brown trainee in a close photo finish at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y.

A winner at 1 1/16 miles last out, Mo Donegal sat toward mid-pack in the field of eight throughout the first part of the 1 1/8-mile Remsen, with Zandon sitting third behind leader Fromanothamutha, who set early fractions of :25.18 and :51.47 around the first turn and down the backstretch. On the far turn, Midnight Chrome and Mr Jefferson moved past Fromanothamutha, taking over 1-2 briefly as Zandon split them and took the lead into the stretch.

In traffic on the far turn, jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. took Mo Donegal to the outside, going five-wide into the stretch. As the field straightened out for home, Zandon was second behind Fromanothamutha, who tired as Mo Donegal, running down the center of the track, took the lead. Zandon hooked up with Mo Donegal midstretch, with Mo Donegal holding a short lead as they came together. Zandon was not done, battling back and trying to pull even with Mo Donegal as they approached the wire. At the finish, Mo Donegal was a nose in front. The close contact between the two down the stretch and a bump as they ran together in the last sixteenth led John Velazquez to claim foul again Ortiz. The inquiry went to the stewards, who upheld the results.

The final time was 1:53.61. Find this race's chart here.

Mo Donegal paid $4.90, $2.70, and $2.30. Zandon paid $3.00 and $2.70. Midnight Chrome paid $7.10.

“We were watching the inquiry upstairs and they put it into four screens so it was hard to see, obviously they came close together right at the finish. I'd have to watch it again. I couldn't see from up there if they touched or not, but Irad [Ortiz, Jr.] did say it was right at the wire,” trainer Todd Pletcher said after the Remsen. “I thought he ran great. He was getting a good, ground-saving trip and put himself in a good spot. He kind of had to angle out a little bit and lost some ground there but it looked like when he got there he is still trying to figure out how to polish it off. The other horse battled back.”

“We were down the lane fighting in a big race. He [Velazquez] was riding his horse and I was riding mine. It was a good race and we got together a little before the wire, but it was a beautiful race. He [Mo Donegal] tried his hardest and I did my best. We got lucky with the head bob and got there,” jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. told the NYRA Press Office after the race. “I was looking for some room [at the turn for home] and there were four horses in front of me. So, I had to wait a few jumps and go around. It probably cost me a length and a half. He idled a little bit. He's a young horse and I tried to meet the other horse and keep going. As soon as he got to the other horse, he fought back. He was ready.”

Bred in Kentucky by Ashview Farm and Colts Neck Stables, Mo Donegal is by Uncle Mo out of the Pulpit mare Callingmissbrown. Trained by Todd Pletcher, the 2-year-old colt is owned by Donegal Racing who purchase the colt from Ashview Farm for $250,000 at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. With his victory in the G2 Remsen, Mo Donegal has two wins in three starts for career earnings of $197,800. He also earns 10 points toward the 2022 Kentucky Derby. Zandon earns four points, Midnight Chrome two points, and Mr Jefferson one point.

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