Ben Cecil

The Saturday graded stakes action across North America offers several options, but the Big A earns the spotlight as the venerable NYRA track plays host to some strong races. Even though the Cigar Mile Handicap was downgraded a tick from its top level status by the American Graded Stakes Committee in 2023, connections still consider the race to possess a certain cache and the rigor in this year's edition is evident. "It [Cigar Mile] came up pretty salty," said Book'em Danno's trainer Derek Ryan. "It is a Grade II now...

After a years-long long battle with cancer, Southern California-based trainer Ben Cecil has passed at the age of 56. He leaves behind his wife Kirsty, and two children, Francesca and Hugo. A near 30-year training career yielded 325 victories and nearly $25 million in prize money. He conditioned several Golden State heavy weights including multiple Grade I winners Golden Apples and Squeak, along with top-flight winners Donna Viola and Passinetti. As nephew to legendary British trainer Henry, Cecil's lineage suggested no other career path than the one taken. His father...

Going Global (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) will put her perfect five-for-five record over the Santa Anita lawn to the test as the 8-5 morning-line favorite in the GI Gamely S. at Santa Anita Monday. The 4-year-old was first or second in seven of eight starts last term, with her lone off-the-board finish coming in the off-turf GI American Oaks in December. Her 2021 campaign included wins in the GI Del Mar Oaks--at the Gamely's nine-furlong distance--and in the GII Goldikova S. She opened 2022 with a win in the one-mile GII...