Untimely Turn Of Events Swift Pace Leaves Cigar A Win Short Of Record

Blame Cigar’s dramatic defeat on Dramatic Gold.

Bill Mott, Cigar’s trainer, believes that the fourth-place finisher played a major role in the snapping of his star’s 16-race winning streak Saturday in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar.

“Both Siphon and our horse were pushed along by Dramatic Gold, and they both went too damn fast,” Mott said. “They both lost their chances.”

The speedy Siphon broke on top from the No. 3 post just inside of Cigar, who followed him through a half-mile in a rapid 45-4/5 seconds and three-quarters of a mile in 1:09-1/5.

Dramatic Gold, ridden by Corey Nakatani, broke from the outside post in the six-horse field, and for the first three-quarters was just behind and outside of Cigar.

Perhaps, if Dramatic Gold had broken just outside Siphon, with Cigar farther out, it would have been Dramatic Gold who pushed the pace, leaving Jerry Bailey the chance to take back on Cigar.

“We have absolutely, positively no excuses other than we maybe were going too fast, and we’re not blaming Cigar for that,” Mott said. Bailey said he didn’t expect the scenario as it unfolded.

“I was surprised with the way Corey rode his horse by pressing the pace,” Bailey said. “He was trying to beat Cigar.

“When you know you cannot beat a horse, sometimes you try to box him in or do something else within the rules of racing. But it was his horse and his decision.”

Cigar was a head in front of Siphon after a mile reached in 1:33-3/5. Then Dare And Go, who was third, flew by on the outside to win in 1:59-4/5.

“I think Cigar has made some new friends for racing today,” Mott said.

The race was watched by a Del Mar record crowd of 44,181, almost 10,000 more than the previous mark set on opening day of the 1994 meeting.

Cigar left Sunday for Saratoga Springs, N.Y., where Mott has his string stabled.

“The streak is over, but there are still other races to be won,” Mott said.

His next start could be in the 1-1/8-mile Woodward on Sept. 14 at Belmont Park. It also is possible he could start in the 1-1/4-mile Jockey Club Gold Cup on Oct. 5 at Belmont. The final race of his career is expected to be the $4 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at 1-1/4 miles Oct. 25 at Woodbine.

The loss left Cigar tied with Citation for the longest win streak by a North American-based thoroughbred in this century. Citation won 16 straight 1948-50.

The $200,000 Cigar got for second made him the third horse ever to earn at least $9 million. His earnings are $9,019,815.