Todd Pletcher has won the GI Cigar Mile four times with the most recent being the 2012 renewal won by Stay Thirsty (Bernardini). The Hall of Famer has a strong chance to take home his fifth Cigar Mile title Saturday when he saddles the two top choices Americanrevolution (Constitution) and Following Sea (Runhappy).
Americanrevolution was moved to Pletcher after his debut and won his first three starts for his new barn, including dominant score in the state-bred New York Derby July 19 at Finger Lakes and Albany S. Aug. 27 at Saratoga. Third when returned to open company and stepped up to the big leagues for the Sept. 25 GI Pennsylvania Derby, the flashy chestnut put on a show in a sloppy renewal of the Empire Classic H. At Belmont Oct. 30, splashing home an 11 3/4-length winner and earning a 108 Beyer Speed Figure in the process.
“He's been very consistent, and he's accomplished a lot in a short period of time,” Pletcher said. “He's made a lot of progress. It's another class test and he's dropping back in distance which is always a challenge, but he deserves a chance.”
Following Sea earned the 'TDN Rising Star' nod for his impressive second-out graduation at Oaklawn Apr. 10 while under the care of Bob Baffert. Part of a group of Spendthrift runners transferred to Pletcher after the GI Kentucky Derby, the bay romped in a Belmont allowance June 3 and completed the trifecta when stretched to two turns for the GI Haskell Invitational S. July 17. He was third again next out behind Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music) and his GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile-winning stablemate Life is Good (Into Mischief) in the GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial S. at Saratoga Aug. 28. Following Sea scored a good-looking victory in Belmont's GII Vosburgh S. Oct. 9 and was a respectable third in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint S. at Del Mar last out Nov. 6.
“He still has to prove himself going further,” Pletcher said. “He was impressive in the Vosburgh and his allowance race and in his maiden win sprinting. He's always given us the impression of a horse that will run further, and he's certainly built like one that would.”
Independence Hall (Constitution) looks to close his career in style with a long-awaited Grade I score. A black-type winner at two, three and now four, the dark bay was third in the GII Californian S. Apr. 17 and was subsequently shelved. Fifth in the GI Pacific Classic when he returned Aug. 21, Independence Hall was second to likely Horse of the Year Knicks Go (Paynter) in the Oct. 2 GIII Lukas Classic and powered home a 7 1/4-length winner of the GII Hagyard Fayette S. in the slop at Keeneland Oct. 30. MGISW and Fayette runner-up Code of Honor (Noble Mission {GB}) also returns here.
Dirt Mile runner-up and GII Pat O'Brien S. winner Ginobili (Munnings) ships east along with Independence Hall for this prestigious event.
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