December 1, 2015

All eyes were on BC Classic winner and Horse Of The Year Niagra in the Grade I Cigar Mile Handicap on Saturday afternoon and while he ran incredibly well in this eighth start of the season, it was the more rested West Northwest to came on with giant strides to nab the heavy favourite by a neck for his fourth win in a row. Purchased for only $46.000 at the September auction off a huge win at AP, the gelded son of Hail Two Bob, the surprise sire of Travers winner Crown Heights and Juvenile Turf winner Half Moon Bay, now has another Grade I winner on his resume and a horse who could really make an impact as the distances stretch out.

Outside speed came barreling out of the gate in the Cigar Mile as West Northwest (4.60) and Roxys Triple Crown (49.40) threw down the gauntlets early with the filly, Team Nebraska (36.70), being the only one to drop off the pace. As the outside runner could command onto the main track, Niagra (*0.70) held his position along the fence and through the final split of 23.31, he quickly sprinted forward to overtake West Northwest for second behind Roxys Triple Crown. Brutal (4.00) also came ranging up the rail with Team Nebraska as West Northwest fell back and as the two leaders dueled to a half-mile in 46.67, it was the heavy favourite who looked poised to go on and take control. However, the leader was a stubborn foe and it was literally nose-to-nose around the far turn before Niagra finally wrested the lead but at the head of the lane, the most unlikely scenario was playing out from the back of the pack. While Brutal was flat and Team Nebraska was unable to keep pace, it was a resurgent West Northwest who came between rivals with a decisive run and with just over a furlong to run, the six-furlong split of 1:09.88 set up the pace he needed to close into and in the shadow of the wire, he found the room he needed as well. In the last strides, the former $25.000 claimer became a Grade I winner by a head, with the hardluck Niagra second yet again by a nose from a very game and determined Roxys Triple Crown. Team Nebraska was wide the entire way but certainly not disgraced in fourth while Brutal and Sannys On Fire (4.85) failed completely and wound up four-lengths back in what were tough efforts for both against this quality field.

West Northwest was certainly quick enough in that blowout win at AP to warrant a shot at tougher company but the way in which he won the Grade I Cigar Mile was truly bizarre, dropping back to fifth before rallying up for the win over Horse Of The Year Niagra. The winner could be in a new barn by 2016 if he goes for a big price in the auction; for the runner-up, it has been a year of near misses with only one win but four runner-up placings by a nose and three necks that make him a contender for Top Older Male but certainly one you would have hoped better for all season long.

Congratulations goes out to owner Grimley and their five-year-old gelding West Northwest, a come-from-behind winner of the Grade I Cigar Mile Handicap at AQU!

Prediction                     Niagra / Team Nebraska / Roxys Triple Crown

Winner                          West Northwest

                                         Five-year-old chestnut gelding

                                         Hail Two Bob-West Nile (Auto-Generated)

Owner                            Grimley

Time                                23.31, 46.67, 1:09.88, 1:34.37

Overall

West Northwest           4.60 brief speed, fell back, came on powerfully

Niagra                             *0.70 inside run, tough battle around turn, missed

Roxys Triple Crown    49.40 set pace, held well, failed to quicken enough

Team Nebraska            36.70 wide run throughout

Brutal                               4.00 brief pace, faded

Sannys On Fire             4.85 outrun

Triple T Racing 🙂

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES