'Nothing has really gone his way'; Is Mendelssohn done racing?

Mendelssohn figured to thrive cutting back in distance for Saturday's Grade 1, $750,000 Cigar Mile given he'd set the pace and stuck around in longer, more prestigious races this year.

But his connections hinted at the rigors of the campaign after the 3-year-old colt failed to make the lead at Aqueduct, just remaining up for fourth in a photo finish 3 1/4 lengths behind winner Patternrecognition.

"It's been a long year for him," said T. J. Comerford, traveling assistant to trainer Aidan O'Brien. "I don't really know."

Comerford added that jockey Ryan Moore, who also made the trip from Europe, "was just a little bit disappointed with (Menselssohn) today. He didn't jump like he normally does, so maybe it's just been a long year. He's normally more enthusiastic about jumping himself, so I suppose (Moore) just rode him as he found him today."

Plans initially called for Mendelssohn to follow up the Cigar Mile as owner Coolmore's entry in the upcoming Pegasus World Cup (G1) at Gulfstream Park. After that, the son of the late Scat Daddy could still stand the 2019 breeding season at Ashford Stud in Kentucky.

"I kind of think nothing has really gone his way at all, all year," Moore said.

After opening the season with a minor stakes win on synthetic, Mendelssohn trounced his competition in the UAE Derby (G2) but didn't win any of his six starts on American dirt that followed.

Whereas Mendelssohn set the pace in the Travers (G1) and Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), he settled third in the Cigar Mile field of eight.

"I was just seeing what happens," Moore said of leaving the gate. "If no one was going, then we'd go to the lead, but I was happy. We had a nice run, really."

Based on the jockey's comments, a try at the Pegasus remains possible.

"We'll see what the plan is," Moore said. "I think there's more in there at some point."