Independence Hall 'nice and sharp' ahead of Cigar Mile

Independence Hall breezed a bullet half-mile in 46.8 seconds Saturday at Churchill Downs in his final piece of work for the Grade 1, $750,000 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct.

"I'm very happy with the way he worked," trainer Michael McCarthy said. "We wanted to go ahead and put a little air in his lungs, and that's definitely what we got. A race like the Cigar Mile doesn't come around very often, and we wanted to make sure we're nice and sharp."

Owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Twin Creeks Racing Stables, WinStar Farm, Kathleen Verratti and Robert Verratti, the 4-year-old Constitution colt boasts a 2-for-2 record at the Big A that includes a 12 1/4-length score in the 2019 Nashua (G3) and a four-length win in the 2020 Jerome, both at a one-turn mile for his former conditioner Michael Trombetta.

Independence Hall made his first start for McCarthy in November 2020 at Del Mar, winning a 6 1/2-furlong optional-claiming sprint ahead of a fifth in the seven-furlong Malibu (G1) in December 2020 at Santa Anita.

The dark bay demonstrated class while chasing the victorious Knicks Go with a third-place effort in the nine-furlong Pegasus World Cup (G1) in January at Gulfstream and a pressing second in the nine-furlong Lukas Classic (G3) in October at Churchill Downs.

McCarthy said Independence Hall has benefitted from the addition of blinkers three starts back when fifth off a four-month layoff in the Pacific Classic (G1) in August at Del Mar

“The blinkers have helped him focus a little bit and dial him in a little more,” McCarthy said. “The Pacific Classic was unfortunate coming off of a long layoff and going a mile and a quarter. It just didn't seem like he was as tight as he could have been, but as you can see it certainly moved him forward.”

Last out, Independence Hall romped to a 7 1/4-length score over Cigar Mile rival Code of Honor in the nine-furlong Fayette (G2) contested over a sloppy track on Oct. 30 at Keeneland.

McCarthy confirmed Hall of Famer Javier Castellano will retain the mount aboard Independence Hall, who will ship to New York on Monday.