Kodiak Kowboy wins Cigar Mile

NEW YORK (AP)—A determined Kodiak Kowboy went out a winner in his final race, beating Bribon by three-quarters of a length in the $300,000 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct on Saturday.

Trapped in traffic rounding the turn, Kodiak Kowboy and jockey Shaun Bridgmohan angled outside to overtake Bribon, who had grabbed the lead in the final eighth of the mile.

In a photo provided by the New…
AP - Nov 26, 3:05 pm EST

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“I was just very patient with him, and when I asked him, he responded like the professional he’s always been,” Bridgmohan said. “He’s such a cool horse.”

A 4-year-old trained by Steve Asmussen, Kodiak Kowboy earned a second straight Grade 1 victory following his win in the Vosburgh at Belmont Park last month. He also captured the Grade 1 Carter Handicap at Aqueduct in April. Those three triumphs could earn him an Eclipse Award as the champion sprinter.

He finished with career earnings of $1,668,529 and a record of 11-4-3 from 23 starts.

Kodiak Kowboy rebounded from a setback that cost him a shot at the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. He was on target for the race until a slow workout work led to an endoscopic examination that revealed mucous in his lungs.

The time was 1:35.57 over a fast track. Kodiak Kowboy paid $8.70, $4.10 and $2.10. Bribon, third in the Cigar Mile last year, returned $3.40 and $2.10. Vineyard Haven, only a head back in third, paid $2.10 to show.

Vacation was fourth followed by Pyro, and Driven by Success.

In other stakes on the card, Flashing was an easy 4 length winner over Unrivaled Belle in the $300,000 Gazelle for 3-year-old fillies; Buddy’s Saint stretched his undefeated streak to three with a 4 3/4 -length win over Peppi Knows in the $200,000 Remsen for 2-year-olds; and Tizahit took the $200,000 Demoiselle for 2-year-old fillies.