Stay Thirsty edges Groupie Doll in Cigar Mile

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Ozone Park, NY (Sports Network) - Stay Thirsty, sent off as the 5-2 second pick, nosed out even-money favorite Groupie Doll to win Saturday's $350,000 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct. Ridden by Ramon Dominguez, the 4-year-old covered the Mile in 1:35.47 on a fast track.

Breaking from the inside post, Stay Thirsty was running fourth in the five- horse field, just a couple of lengths behind the pacesetters Buffum and Coil. Groupie Doll, this year's Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint winner, was racing third to the outside of the two leaders.

Coming out of the final turn, Groupie Doll swung wide to take a short lead with Stay Thirsty mounting a rally from fourth. The favorite, ridden by Rajiv Maragh, had the lead with a furlong to go as Stay Thirsty moved into second from the outside.

Groupie Doll battled with Stay Thirsty the final 100 yards, but was unable to hold off the 2011 Travers champ at the wire. Stay Thirsty, trained by Todd Pletcher, posted a nose victory over the favorite with Coil, the 2011 Haskell winner, holding on for third.

Buffum finished fourth with Donn Handicap winner Hymn Book fifth. Jersey Town and Associate were both scratched. Jersey Town was retired after being scratched from the Cigar Mile with a fever, according to trainer Barclay Tagg.

"He came up with a slight temperature and was off his feed a little bit," said Tagg. "We decided to scratch him rather than run him when he wasn't 100 percent. We were very disappointed at not being able to run him. He'll go to Darby Dan Farm on Monday -- if he's healthy enough to travel -- and be a stallion."

Owned by Mike Repole, Stay Thirsty picked up his first win of the year with the Cigar Mile victory and his first since last year's Travers. The colt added $210,000 to his earnings which now stand at better than $1.93 million with five wins in 17 career starts.

Stay Thirsty was coming off a second-place finish to Flat Out in the Jockey Club Gold Cup on Sept. 29. Earlier this year he was second in the Vanlandingham Stakes and was fifth in both the Suburban and Woodward Handicaps.

Stay Thirsty returned $7.50, $3.20 and $2.20. Groupie Doll paid $2.80 and 2.10, and Coil paid $2.60 to show.