The Cigar Mile Rankings

With one of the more interesting looking Cigar Mile fields just a few days away, I decided to have a little fun with the prestigious, late-season race at Aqueduct. In 24 editions, there have been 23 winners (Congaree won it twice), of the Grade 1 race. Today, I took on the unenviable task of ranking all the winners, 1 through 23. To absolutely no one's surprise, the incomparable Cigar sits in the #1 spot. Remember this race was originally called the NYRA Mile, until the winner of the sixth edition went on to conquer the world. My basis for ranking the rest of them was on their overall racing career and a blending of excellence and accomplishments. Have fun and please let me know where you think I may have gone astray, and also where you think this year's winner will fit in...

1. Cigar 33-19-4-5

2. Forty Niner 19-11-5-0

3. Congaree 25-12-4-0

4. Left Bank 24-14-2-0

5. Rubiano 28-13-6-1

6. Dispersal 22-12-3-2

7. Discreet Cat 9-6-0-2

8. Affirmed Success 42-17-10-6

9. El Corredor 10-7-1-0

10. Kodiak Kowboy 23-11-4-3

11. To Honor and Serve 17-8-1-3

12. Quiet American 12-4-3-1

13. Sir Bear 71-19-12-14

14. Lion Tamer 20-8-3-2

15. Ibero 34-10-7-4 

16. Stay Thirsty 17-5-5-1

17. Gold Fever 18-7-4-1

18. Jersey Town 21-6-8-3

19. Purge 15-6-1-2

20. Tale of Ekati 12-5-1-0

21. Flying Chevron 12-5-1-1

22. Daaher 9-4-0-2

23. Devious Course 32-6-6-5