PERFORMER SEEKS GRADE I GLORY IN CIGAR MILE
Phipps Stable and Claiborne Farm’s Performer (Speightstown) looks to continue his hot streak as he takes his first crack at the highest level Saturday in Aqueduct’s GI Cigar Mile. Graduating at second asking at Belmont in June of 2019, the chestnut captured a 6 1/2-panel allowance at Saratoga that August and a
1 1/16-mile optional claimer at Belmont last September. Closing out his sophomore season with a victory in this venue’s
GIII Discovery S. just over a year ago, Performer was subsequently shelved and resurfaced with an optional claimer score in the mud at Belmont Oct. 17.
TODAY’S GRADED STAKES
ET Race
2:07p Go For Wand H.-GIII, AQU
3:44p Demoiselle S.-GII, AQU
4:13p Cigar Mile-GI, AQU
5:28p Starlet S.-GI, LRC
MIKE SMITH POSITIVE FOR COVID-19; WILL MISS WEEKEND MOUNTS
Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith has tested positive for COVID-19, forcing him to bypass this weekend’s stakes action at Los Alamitos. The story was first report by the Daily Racing Form.
ASTUTE LOOKS TO REMAIN PERFECT IN STARLET
LNJ Foxwoods’ Astute (Speightstown) looks to take her record to three-for-three Saturday in the GI Starlet S. at Los Alamitos. Graduating in her career bow sprinting on turf at Santa Anita Oct. 12, the $425,000 KEESEP purchase romped by 7 1/2 lengths next out on dirt in Del Mar’s Desi Arnaz S. Nov. 14.
Princess Noor (Not This Time) hopes to return to winning ways as she sheds the blinkers here after finishing fifth as the favorite in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Keeneland last out Nov. 6. A debut winner at Del Mar in August, the $1.35-million OBSAPR topper captured both the Sept. 6 GI Del Mar Debutante and Sept. 26 GII Chandelier S. by a combined 14 3/4 lengths.
MALATHAAT LOOMS LARGE IN DEMOISELLE
Undefeated ‘TDN Rising Star’ Malathaat (Curlin) looks to remain perfect as she steps up to graded company in Saturday’s GII Demoiselle S. at Aqueduct. A decisive debut winner going seven panels at Belmont Oct. 9, the $1.05-million KEESEP buy romped by 7 3/4 lengths in the one-mile Tempted S. at this oval Nov. 6.
JERSEY-BRED RETURNS TO THE BIG APPLE FOR REMSEN
Pickin’ Time (Stay Thirsty) upset the GIII Nashua S. on his last visit to Aqueduct Nov. 8 and he looks to double up Saturday when he returns to Ozone Park for the GII Remsen S. A debut winner at Monmouth July 4, the Jersey-bred was a non-factor eighth in the GII Saratoga Special S. Aug. 7, but was second next out in the Sapling S. back in the Garden State Sept. 6. The dark bay scored a narrow win in the Smoke Glacken S. at the Jersey Shore Sept. 26 prior to his Nashua victory last time.
LONGINES GRAN PREMIO LATINOAMERICANO POSTPONED
The Organizacion Sudamericana de Fomento board--in conjunction with LONGINES--announced the 2021 renewal of the Longines Gran Premio Latinoamericano and Longines Cup, will be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Originally scheduled for this spring, the event will now be staged Sunday, Oct. 24th 2021, at Hipódromo Nacional de Maroñas, Uruguay.
