Cigar Mile a Saudi Cup Prep for Bishops Bay

At a time when 2-year-olds are focusing on the preps for the 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Kentucky Oaks (G1), the 5-year-old Bishops Bay is facing a prep of his own. Trainer Brad Cox said how the son of Uncle Mo fares in the Dec. 6 $500,000 Cigar Mile Handicap (G2) at Aqueduct Racetrack will play a key role in deciding whether the recent purchase will be heading to Saudi Arabia for the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) Feb. 14. "The new ownership group wants to get him to the Saudi Cup and we need to get him a little stronger résumé so that he can have an opportunity to run in it," Cox said. "This race carries some weight and will help get his rating where it needs to be." A winner of eight of 12 starts with three seconds, the only subpar effort in his past performances is a sixth in the Aug. 23 Forego Stakes (G1). The multiple grade 3 winner was purchased by the Saudi-based KAS Stables for $1.3 million at the Keeneland November Horses of Racing Age Sale last month following a Nov. 2 win in the Forty Niner Stakes (G3) at the Big A, which was contested at the same mile distance as Saturday's handicap. "He's very consistent," Cox said about the son of the Pioneerof the Nile mare Catch My Drift who was bred by WinStar Farm. "He was sold but came right back to us. He's always trained well. He drew a good post (post 7 in a field of seven) and it's a spot I like. He likes the distance and course and we'll see what happens." Two-for-two at Aqueduct and 3-for-3 at a mile, Bishops Bay was pegged as the co-highweight of 125 pounds along with Jupiter Stables' Phileas Fogg. An Astern (AUS) gelding, Phileas Fogg will be racing at a distance shorter than 1 1/16 miles for the first time since he won a Sept. 26, 2024, allowance optional claimer at Aqueduct. He is coming off a second to Locked in the mile-and-an-eighth Woodward Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct Sept. 27 and won the Suburban Stakes (G2) at a mile-and-a-quarter distance July 4. "He's doing beautiful," trainer Gustavo Rodriguez said. "I think he'll be OK with the cutback. A mile and an eighth or a mile and a quarter is better for him, but it is what it is. He won here going 1 mile, and I know it wasn't a stakes race, but he ran good that day. We gave him a little break, and now it's showtime." Donna Wight and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing's Crazy Mason, who will tote 124 pounds, is the polar opposite of Phileas Fogg. He is stretching out to a mile after racing at 7 furlongs or less in his last eight starts for trainer Gregory Sacco. The Coal Front 4-year-old rallied for second in the 7-furlong Vosburgh Stakes (G3) Sept. 27 in his most recent start. Winner of the 7-furlong Carter Stakes (G2) at the Big A in April, he was third in the Forego immediately before the Vosburgh. The field also includes the New York-bred Doc Sullivan, who captured a New York Stallion Series Stakes in his most recent try. The son of Solomini trained by John Ortiz was fourth in both the Vosburgh and Forego.