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11/29/08 (a.m. report)
There are only 2 changes for
the Cigar Mile. Harlem
Rocker is over 1 pound from
115, and Storm Play is over
2 pounds from 114. The
weather forecast remains
with an expected high of 44
sunny degrees. The
12:30 p.m. temperature is 45
degrees, wind WNW at 10 mph,
and it is mostly cloudy.
11/28/08
Weather forecast for
Saturday at Aqueduct:
Mostly sunny except for
a few afternoon clouds, with
a high of 44 degrees,
precipitation 10%, winds WNW
5-10 mph. The morning
line odds have Harlem Rocker
as the longest shot at 15
-1. It will be
interesting to watch the
actual odds as Kodiak Kowboy
is currently listed as the
favorite at 7/2.
11/27/08
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Those of us at
Harlemrocker.com are
thankful for a few new
things today.
-
That
Harlem Rocker will start
in post position 3
outside of Arson Squad
and inside of Bribon.
-
That
trainer Todd Pletcher
knows how to train for
this race, having won it
3 of the last 7 years.
-
That
in a race of "musical
jockeys" Eibar Coa stays
aboard.
-
That
we should get some good
odds on Harlem Rocker on
Saturday.
Now let's hope for good
weather and a good trip on
Saturday!
11/25/08
As we approach the draw for
the Hill 'n' Dale Cigar
Mile, the field begins to
sort itself out. The
latest news has indications
that Timber Reserve may,
instead, be headed to the
Clark Handicap at Churchill
Downs on 11/28, where
Commentator heads the field.
Anak Nakal still exercises
options of either the Clark
or the Cigar Mile, having
been listed at 118 pounds
for the Clark and 116 for
the Cigar Mile.
Fabulous Strike has been
entered in Thursday's Fall
Highweight H. also at
Aqueduct. Probables
are currently stated as
Arson Squad, Bribon (FR),
Harlem Rocker, Kodiak Kowboy,
Storm Play (who turned in a
bullet work yesterday), Tale
of Ekati, Visionaire, and
Wanderin Boy.
PM Update: A
field of 8 horses has been
drawn for the Clark
Handicap, confirming the
entries of Commentator, Anak Nakal,
and Timber Reserve.
Also confirmed, as we
reported on 11/23/08,
Monterey Jazz will make the
trip from California to
contest the Cigar Mile.
He is scheduled to arrive in
New York on
Wednesday.
11/24/08
Weights have been listed for
the Cigar Mile, with Harlem
Rocker at 115. High
weight of 123 was assigned
to Commentator, who is not
expected to start, with
Arson Squad next at 119.
Fabulous Strike, Monterey
Jazz, and Wanderin Boy have
been listed at 118, with 117
to Lucky Island (ARG).
116 pounds is assigned to
Anak Nakal, Into Mischief,
Kodiak Kowboy, Sir Whimsey,
Tale of Ekati, Timber
Reserve, and Visionaire.
Harlem Rocker shares the 115
pound assignment with Da'
Tara, Greeley's Conquest,
Marchfield, and Past the
Point. Listed at 114
would be Bribon (FR),
Forefathers, and Storm Play.
Dropping down to 113 are
Lieutenant Ron (not expected
to run due to competing in
the 11/22 Discovery
Handicap) and Mr. Umphrey.
Richard Dutrow's colts,
Maven and Unity were both
assigned 110, and Chatain
will not compete.
11/23/08
It has been reported by
California sources that
Monterey Jazz is quite
likely to come East for the
Cigar Mile. As he is
also nominated for the
Citation and is currently
training at Hollywood Park,
the trip to NY is contingent
upon a number of factors
this week, principally
weather and travel
arrangements.
Lieutenant Ron ran yesterday
in the G3 Discovery Handicap
at Aqueduct, finishing 5th.
Harlem Rocker turned in his
final workout before the
Cigar, going 5F in 1:02.10.
Also working today at
Belmont was Tale of Ekati in
1:02.85 for 5F.
At this time, the expected
starters for the Cigar Mile
are Arson Squad, Bribon
(FR), Harlem Rocker, Kodiak
Kowboy, Storm Play, Tale of
Ekati, Visionaire, and
Wanderin Boy, with Past the
Point possible (per NYRA
11/21/08).
11/17/08 (last updated
11/20)
The Hill 'n' Dale Cigar Mile
is shaping up to be both an
interesting and competitive
race for Harlem Rocker.
With the potential of facing
some older horses which
excel on the dirt, it could
be an indication of how his
4 year old season will
begin.
Of the older horses,
Commentator has been shipped
to Churchill Downs with the
indication that he will
bypass the Cigar Mile in
favor of the Clark Handicap.
Trainer Richard Dutrow,
citing the drop in purse for
the Clark, has stated that
Arson Squad will most likely
remain in New York for the
Cigar Mile. He is
certainly a horse to be
reckoned with on the dirt.
With Monterey Jazz's return,
having been sidelined since
spring, it is more likely
that he will find his way to
the Citation H. at Hollywood
Park on November 28.
Marchfield, recent winner of
the Autumn Stakes at
Woodbine would be running
back in 3 weeks, but has
handled the shorter interval
between races in the past
without a problem.
Timber Reserve finished 6th
and Sir Whimsey 4th behind
Bribon (FR) in a November 7
AOC at Aqueduct on November
7 so any of them would be
coming back in 3 weeks.
It should be noted that the
winning time on the
aforementioned race for
Bribon was 1:34.89 for the
mile. Chatain's last
outing resulted in victory
in the Hal's Hope at
Gulfstream, but has been off
since that start in January
of this year. A run in
the Cigar Mile for Fabulous
Strike would be stretching
out from his usual 6 furlong
distance, with the last
start in the Breeders' Cup
Sprint. Lucky Island
has been off of his game in
the last two starts, but a
return to form on the
stretch out could put him
into contention in this
field. Wanderin Boy
finished 2nd behind Curlin
in the Jockey Club Gold Cup,
his last time out, in a game
effort. In only 4
starts this year, he has
been on the board in all.
Rounding out the remainder
of the older horses are
Forefathers (on the board in
approximately 50% of his
starts), Greeley's Conquest
(approximately 75% on the
board in his career, with
2nd place finishes in his
last two, the Ack Ack and
Forego), Maven (owned and
trained by Richard Dutrow,
and could be a rabbit for
Arson Squad),
Mr. Umphrey (claimed two
starts back and moved from
the barn of Richard Dutrow
to Gary Contessa), and Past
the Point (2nd in the
Woodward to Curlin, but off
the board in his last start
after being bumped).
The 3 year olds will be
wrapping up the season and
testing the waters with
older competition.
Tale of Ekati emerged
victorious in his last
outing at Belmont in the
Jerome at the same distance
of a mile. Also in the
Jerome, Da' Tara (may wait
until 2009 for his next
start) tired to
6th just ahead of a 7th
place finish by Visionaire.
Harlem Rocker made his run
that day to finish 3rd with
4
1/4
lengths separating him from
the winner. Anak Nakal,
one of Nick Zito's 4
nominees, has improved in
his last two starts, winning
the Pennsylvania Derby in a
courageous finish and making
a run at Arson Squad in the
Meadowlands Cup to close
steadily for second (the
Clark Handicap is also
possible for him).
Kodiak Kowboy, now in the
barn of Larry Jones, has
always been a contender, and
Lieutenant Ron, an early
hopeful for Kiaran
McLaughlin, returned in his
second start after a 5 month
layoff to victory by 8
3/4
lengths and is entered in
the
11/22 Discovery Handicap. Lightly raced
Into Mischief, also recently
returned after being
sidelined for 8 months,
claimed victory in the
Damascus Stakes on Breeders'
Cup day. His
connections have indicated
that he will wait for the
Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita
in December. Unity is
another interesting nominee
trained by Richard Dutrow
who broke his maiden in
August but appears to have
much yet to accomplish,
although he may serve as a
rabbit for Arson Squad.
The remaining 3 year old is
Storm Play, a well bred colt
who began his career in
August of this year.
With only those 3 starts
under his belt, he has
emerged with 3 wins by
convincing margins for Jimmy Jerkens.
Where does this leave Harlem
Rocker? Certainly up
against it in this field of
accomplished nominees.
Gone are the bullet works,
with none since June of this
year, instead perhaps
settling into a more
consistent and controlled
regimen. In the
capable hands of trainer
Todd Pletcher, the promising
colt will have to give it
his best in the Cigar Mile.
We think he might just do
that. |
