Kimmel: 'Mr. Buff is ready to rock and roll' in Cigar Mile

Mr. Buff, bred in New York by owners Chester and Mary Broman, will make his 41st career start overall in Saturday’s Cigar Mile (G1). The John Kimmel trainee has flourished at the Big A where he is 8-3-0 in 13 previous starts, including five stakes victories led by a 20-length score in the one-mile Haynesfield in February that matched a career-best 106 Beyer.

“Mr. Buff is ready to rock and roll,” said Kimmel. “He has a very consistent record at Aqueduct. He’s won eight races there. I don’t think the rain would bother him at all.

“His last time going a mile at Aqueduct was pretty impressive when he won the Haynesfield,” added Kimmel. “If he can replicate that, he’ll be in good shape.”

The Cigar Mile will mark Mr. Buff’s sixth attempt in graded company. Last year, the 6-year-old Friend Or Foe chestnut ran ninth in the New Orleans Handicap (G2) at Fair Grounds; seventh in the Woodward (G1) at Saratoga and tenth in the Clark (G1) at Churchill Downs.

This summer, Mr. Buff finished fifth in both the Grade 2 Suburban and Grade 1 Whitney at the Spa before returning to winning form last out in the Empire Classic against fellow state-breds on Oct. 24 at Belmont Park.

“I think he’s cycling back into form if you look at his numbers,” said Kimmel. “I don’t think he was in top shape for the Whitney and Suburban. For whatever reason, the summer months just didn’t suit him very well.

“As for the Clark, the pace was extremely quick that day, but he’s ran those types of pace figures before and stayed better than he did that day,” added Kimmel. “We’ll be on his favorite track in the Cigar Mile, going a distance at which he’s run well and facing a group in a Grade 1 race that’s maybe not as tough as it has been in the past.”

Kimmel said Junior Alvarado, who retains the mount from post 5, is likely to dictate terms with Mr. Buff.

“He seems to run his best races on the lead and looking at the race, I think he’s the controlling pace in the race,” said Kimmel.

Kimmel will be represented by a pair of stakes starters on Sunday, Closing Day of the 18-day Big A fall meet, with Pacific Gale in the $100,000 Garland of Roses at six furlongs for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up and Jill’s a Hot Mess in the $250,000 NYSSS Fifth Avenue at seven furlongs for eligible New York-sired juvenile fillies.

Tobey Morton’s Pacific Gale, who boasts a record of 26-3-6-4, won the 2017 Sorority at Monmouth Park. She has hit the board in five graded-stakes events in her career and Kimmel said a turnback in distance may help her overcome the Charlie Baker-trained Honor Way, who bested her by 4 ½-lengths last out in the seven-furlong Pumpkin Pie on November 1 at Belmont.

“She’s a bridesmaid all the time, but she’s coming into the race in good shape,” said Kimmel. “She needs to turn the tide on Charlie Baker’s horse, but maybe three-quarters will be a little better for her. She’s doing well right now and she loves the slop.”

Kimmel said Pacific Gale will retire at the end of the year.

“She’ll be bred this winter to Not This Time, so we only have a race or two left with her,” said Kimmel.

Jill’s a Hot Mess, a daughter of Laoban owned by Morton with America’s Pastime Stables, will look to graduate in style when making her first start for Kimmel.

The bay, bred in the Empire State by Michael J. Galvin, finished second last out in a six-furlong state-bred maiden sprint at Saratoga on Aug. 19 for former conditioner Eric Guillot.

“She’s well bred and she’s doing extremely well,” said Kimmel. “We’ve got her in a good spot physically and mentally right now and I think she has enough speed that she should find herself fairly close.”

Jill’s a Hot Mess worked a half-mile in company in 48.09 seconds, fourth best of 139 efforts at the distance, on Nov. 29 on Big Sandy in company with 3-year-old gelding Ernie Banker.

Kimmel said the filly handled her company with aplomb.

“She worked in 48 and out in a minute and change last weekend in company against an older horse,” said Kimmel.