by Keith McCalmont
The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) today announced the Saturday, December 5 Cigar Mile Day card at Aqueduct Racetrack will feature a mandatory payout of the Empire 6, which boasts a jackpot of $278,182 heading into the start of the racing week at the Big A on November 27.
Live coverage of all the races in the sequence will be available with America’s Day at the Races on MSG+. Free Equibase-provided past performances will be available for races that are part of the America’s Day at the Races broadcast and can be accessed at https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.
The 32nd renewal of the Grade 1, $250,000 Cigar Mile for 3-year-olds and up headlines a lucrative card which includes a pair of prestigious Grade 2, $150,000 nine-furlong events for juveniles in the Remsen and its filly counterpart, the Demoiselle, as well as the Grade 3, $100,000 Go for Wand Handicap for fillies and mares at one mile on the main track.
The probable field for the Cigar Mile includes Bon Raison (Sisterson/Vargas, Jr.), Firenze Fire (Breen/Lezcano), King Guillermo (Avila/J. Ortiz), Mr. Buff (Kimmel/Alvarado), Mind Control (Sacco/Velazquez), Performer (McGaughey/Rosario), and True Timber (Sisterson/Carmouche).
The Empire 6 requires the bettor to select the first-place finisher of the final six races of the day’s card. On non-mandatory payout days, if one unique ticket exists, then 100 percent of the net pool, plus the jackpot carryover if applicable, will be paid to the winner. If there is no unique wager selecting the first-place finisher in all six races, then 75 percent of the day’s net pool will be distributed to those who selected the first-place finisher in the greatest number of races. The remainder will be added into the jackpot and carried to the next day’s Empire 6.
The Big A fall meet will conclude on Sunday, December 6 with a stakes-laden card that offers a pair of rich New York Stallion Stakes Series races, including the Great White Way for 2-year-olds and the Fifth Avenue for juvenile fillies, with purses of $250,000 each. Also featured on Closing Day is the $100,000 Garland of Roses at six furlongs for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up.
Live racing action will then continue with the 56-day Aqueduct winter meet which kicks off Thursday, December 10 and runs through Sunday, March 28, offering 42 stakes races worth $4.57 million in purses.
For more information, please visit NYRABets.com.
