All systems go for Cigar Street going into the $ 1 million Louisiana Derby
The 3-year-old Jake Ballis owned colt, Cigar Street, doesn’t have much to show going into the Grade 2, $1 million Louisiana Derby in terms of experience and wins under his belt, but in the manner he broke his maiden at second asking speaks volumes of his
potential to do well against a much accomplished and tougher company.
Steve Margolis trained colt failed to deliver at Fair Grounds Race Course when he was asked to six furlongs in a maiden special weight race on 3 February, 2012. He never got going after showing food early pace, as Bourbon Courage got the better of Drago’s
Best, who finished second and Revere in third, while the winner clocked the 6 furlong sprint in 1 minute and 9.28 seconds, as Cigar Street never in contention finished a disappointing fifth.
A lot could have gone wrong in his first race, but he made serious amends in his second attempt at the maidens, where he got stretched out in distance to 1 1/16 miles over the same Fair Grounds’ dirt course on 10 March, 2012.
Against a different field, and in opinion of others, a slightly tougher field than before, Cigar Street went on to break his maiden at second asking by a staggering margin of 13 ¾ lengths, as he clocked the time in 1 minute and 43.75 seconds. He outlasted
Flashy Sunrise in second and Last Gunfighter in third.
The Kentucky bred son of Street Sense, out of mare Arcadiana by Deputy Minister, Cigar Street will be up against the second place finisher of the Risen Star Stakes, Mark Valeski, Rousing Sermon, who finished fifth in the San Felipe Stakes, and Discreet Dancer
who acquired a third place finish in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes.
His trainer Steve Margolis announced that his 3-year-old colt is ready for the local derby, as Cigar Street turned in a work of five furlongs in 1 minute and 1 1/5 seconds on 25 March, 2012.
He was timed with the splits of 12 3/5 seconds and 49 4/5 seconds as he galloped out six furlongs in 1 minute and 15 seconds.
“We’re good (for the local Derby),” said Margolis. “He pulled up good and everything is fine, now.”
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