TDN RISING STARS

March 10, 2012 - Fair Grounds, Race 9, Msw, USD $46,000, 1 1/16m

Cigar Street, c, 3, 2009 by Street Sense

1st Dam: Arcadiana, by Deputy Minister
2nd Dam: Solar Slew, by Seattle Slew
3rd Dam: Gold Sun (Arg), by Solazo

Owner: Jake Ballis
Breeder: Marvin Delfiner, Ted Folkerth & Brookdale (KY)
Trainer: Steve Margolis

Despite a long-winded pedigree, Cigar Street was sent off the 22-10 favorite for his six-furlong debut here Feb. 3, but very little went right that afternoon. Bumped at the break and last early, he was forced into a wide journey and never factored, finishing a distant fifth. Trainer Steve Margolis was able to squeeze three works into him since that effort, including a bullet five-eighths in :59 3/5 Feb. 23, and the colt was 9-5 to get it right this time around. Soon in front, Cigar Street gave jockey Shaun Bridgmohan a rocking chair ride, clicking off splits of :24.28 and :48.17 while well in hand. He turned back a mild bid from second choice Revere (Awesome Again) at the head of the lane, then kicked it into another gear, bounding home to score by 13 3/4 lengths. Flashy Sunrise (Flashy Bull) was second best. "We obviously didn't get the trip we wanted first time out, but we knew he is a big, strapping colt with a beautiful stride and that he wanted two turns," Margolis commented. "I can't necessarily say I expected him on the lead today, but Shaun knows him so well and works him every time, so it just worked out that way. He's got the mind and the looks to be a really good horse." Conservative by his nature, Margolis hinted that it was highly unlikely that he'd wheel Cigar Street back in the GII Louisiana Derby Apr. 1. "It would be a lot to ask," he admitted. "We've got a long year ahead of us, so we'll sit down with [owner] Jake [Ballis], hash it out and see what's best for the horse." The winner is out of a half-sister to two-time Horse of the Year Cigar (Palace Music). Sales history: $130,000 2yo '11 KEEAPR. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $28,438.