Zipse: Americanrevolution is one to watch for G1 Cigar Mile

The Breeders’ Cup of 2021 has come and gone. It is time to begin looking forward to the last few big races of the year, as well as the most exciting horses who will not be ushered off to the breeding shed in 2022. Americanrevolution may fit the bill on both accounts.

The son of Constitution is still a relative unknown to the casual race fan, and that is fair enough. After all, to date he has only won against state-breds, but he is far from your average New York-bred. It is easy to be excited about the potential of the Todd Pletcher-trained colt, and we might not have to wait long to see the up-and-comer in a big test.

Under strong consideration for the Grade 1, $750,000 Cigar Mile on Dec. 4 at Aqueduct, we could find out in just a few weeks if the China Horse Club and WinStar Farm-owned chestnut colt is on his way to becoming the next New York-bred star.

He cannot be mentioned in the same breath as four-time Grade 1 and 2020 Belmont Stakes winner Tiz the Law just yet, but all signals point to him being a very talented runner, and the fact that his Hall of Fame trainer has not been afraid to test the big boys is a positive.

The Cigar Mile would not be the first major ask for the inexperienced Americanrevolution. Two starts back, he was thrust into a seething cauldron when he faced a strong field in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1). There he suffered his only defeat of the season, but a third-place finish behind the much more experienced and classy pair of Hot Rod Charlie and Midnight Bourbon was hardly a disappointing result.

Demonstrating his colt’s upward mobility, it did not take long for Pletcher to bring back Americanrevolution following the defeat. Five weeks after his third in the $1 million test at Parx, he returned to face older horses for the first time in the $300,000 Empire Classic at Belmont Park.

There he ran on an off track for the first time, and the result was even better than expected. Beating a field of older New York-bred runners, Americanrevolution stalked a strong pace, pounced, and poured it on down the stretch. On the wire, he was 11 3/4 lengths clear of his nearest competition.

Striking about the performance was not only how easily it was accomplished, but the speed figures which were awarded for the race. On the Beyer Speed Figure scale, he was given a big number of 108. As mentioned, there is plenty to like about Americanrevolution, and the fact that his speed figures have gone up in every single race can be added to the list.

Sired by one of the top young stallions in the nation, Americanrevolution was produced by the Super Saver mare Polly Freeze. Purchased for $275,000 at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton New York Preferred New York Bred Yearling Sale, he only made it to the races once as a juvenile.

That debut came in an 11-horse field maiden special weight at Keeneland going six furlongs last October. He broke last and was bumped around in the large field, but made good progress to finish fourth behind Mandaloun, who has become one of the top 3-year-olds in the country this year.

As for Americanrevolution, it was not until June when he made it back to the races. Again at six furlongs, he had to fight back on the inside to win by a neck over next-out winner Water’s Edge at Belmont. Having shown plenty of promise and good fight in a pair of maiden sprints eight months apart, it was time for the well-liked colt to move up in both distance and class.

Showing an affinity for more ground, Americanrevolution easily handled fellow New York-breds in both the $150,000 New York Derby at Finger Lakes and the $250,000 Albany at Saratoga. Counting the Empire Classic, he has now won his three attempts in stakes races against state-breds by a combined 24 lengths. Clearly, he is destined for bigger and better things.

The Pennsylvania Derby was a solid first attempt at the big time, but now he must prove he can actually win against Grade 1 competition. It will not be easy, but it is that time of year when really good 3-year-olds can defeat their older rivals, and they have had success over the years in the Cigar Mile. Maximum Security (2019) and Connect (2016) are the most recent to turn the trick.

Having run once in each of the last five months, and getting better with each successive start, the Cigar Mile would seem to be a great opportunity to prove just how good he is, or how much we have to look forward from Americanrevolution in 2022.