Velázquez has plan that wins with Hoist the Gold in Cigar Mile

New York

New York Hall of fame jockey John Velázquez knew exactly what to do with Hoist the Gold on Saturday in the Grade 2, $500,000 Cigar Mile Handicap. That was go to the lead as soon as possible. It proved to be a winning move.

On the Aqueduct track that was muddy and sealed, out front early was the winning strategy all day long. When the gates opened in the 10th race of the day, Velázquez hustled the son of Mineshaft to the front of the 12-horse field from post position 11.

Click here for Aqueduct entries and results.

Joining Hoist the Gold out front was no. 12 Pipeline who also managed to get into a pace-pressing position from the far outside. Velázquez got to the rail, and Pipeline was outside just a head behind as they went 22.41 seconds for the first quarter-mile.

The lead grew to a half-length, and the speedy fractions continued with the half-mile timed at 44.88 seconds.

By the time they finished six furlongs, Pipeline was having trouble keeping up with Hoist the Gold, the advantage grew to 1 1/2 lengths, and the fraction of 1:09.04 was still hot.

At the stretch call Velázquez had plenty of horse left and a five-length advantage, and the late runners had no chance as the 4-year-old hit the wire ahead by 4 1/2 lengths.

Velazquez won the Cigar Mile for the second year in a row and fourth time overall, having done it with Mind Control last year, Tonalist in 2015 and in 2001 with Left Bank.

“Right before the quarter pole I didn’t feel anybody around me,” Velázquez said. “I was like, ‘Man, they’re going to have to really run, because I know when he switch the lead, he goes on again.’ I didn’t feel anybody, but I made him switch the lead and made sure he keep his mind running, because when he gets to the stretch, he runs, but he gets out at the same time. I had to keep him busy as well.”

Hoist the Flag also was ridden by Velázquez in his last two races. They won the Phoenix Stakes (G2) at Keeneland in October with a stalking trip and a big speed figure. Trainer Dallas Stewart sent them to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, where the competition was stiff and the best they could do was sixth.

The plan to stretch out in the Cigar Mile came from Velázquez after the Breeders’ Cup.

“Johnny picked the right race for us,” Stewart said. “He told us at Breeders’ Cup the horse doesn’t like dirt in his face. He said, ‘Just let me ride him the way I want. Run him a mile at Aqueduct, and he won't get beat.’ He was 100 percent right.”

The $275,000 winner’s share of the purse came with Hoist the Gold’s fifth career victory and pushed his earnings past the coveted $1 million mark up to $1,119,400.

Also, Stewart got his first Cigar Mile victory.

“At the eighth pole, he kicked in another gear and got in front of them some more,” Stewart said. “He made that separation, and that’s the sign of a good horse. I just hate that they took the Grade 1 away (in downgrading the Cigar Mile last winter), but he showed he’s a good horse, and we’ll take the $500,000 and head down the road.

“I was looking for the wire somewhere down the road, but he was just unbelievable. It was great. That was pretty special.”

Sent off at 8-1 Hoist the Gold returned $19.40, $7.10 and $5.70. Señor Buscador, at 7-2, was last in the early going and closed to finish second, completing a $2 exacta that paid $61.00. The 32-1 long shot Castle Chaos came from seventh to finish the $793.00 trifecta.

The 5-2 favorite Everso Mischievous had to steady in the middle of the race and ended up with an 11th-place finish.

When asked about what is next for Hoist the Gold, Stewart said, “We’ll have to get together with the owners (Dream Team One Racing Stable) and talk about it. He’ll head to Kentucky for a week’s rest and then come to Fair Grounds.”