To Honor and Serve secured his first grade I win this afternoon at Aqueduct, passing Calibrachoa in the stretch and holding off a late run from Hymn Book to win the $250,000 Cigar Mile Handicap (gr. I) by two lengths.
Under a patient ride from Jose Lezcano, To Honor and Serve settled into second as Calibrachoa set the pace. Together, the two ran the opening quarter mile in :23.05 and the half in :45.61. Sangaree was on the far outside in third, followed by Haynesfield in fourth toward the rail and Caixa Eletronica in between them. It was a long way back to Hymn Book, who trailed the field by as many as ten lengths at one stage.
Turning for home Calibrachoa still held the lead, but To Honor and Serve was still under a hand ride and easily took over the lead in early stretch. Hymn Book was putting in a good run on the far outside, but To Honor and Serve was never really threatened en route to a decisive victory in a very quick 1:33.89. Calibrachoa held third, with Haynesfield coming home fourth.
The race added another grade I win to the resume of trainer Bill Mott, who is having a fantastic month following the victories of Drosselmeyer in the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) and Royal Delta in the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic (gr. I).
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