Cigar Stubs Foot, May Skip Big ‘Cap

A bruised foot has caused curtailment of the training program of Cigar, the 1995 horse of the year, and made him a doubtful starter for the $1-million Santa Anita Handicap on March 2.

Trainer Bill Mott didn’t rule out the Big ‘Cap, but he didn’t sound hopeful that Cigar would run. Thursday was the second day that Cigar was unable to train at Gulfstream Park, and he’s not expected to do anything today while veterinarians treat his right front foot.

Late Thursday, after a blacksmith from Hot Springs, Ark., couldn’t reach Florida because of weather problems, Mott cut a hole in the bottom of the injured hoof to allow an abscess to drain.

“After a procedure like that, the hole will either close or you have to let it grow out,” said a Kentucky veterinarian. “How long that takes depends on the size of the hole.”

The loss of Cigar would be a blow to Santa Anita, which could draw more than 50,000 with him in the race. This week, the track’s marketing department mailed Big ‘Cap promotional packets with a picture of the horse on an envelope that said: “Come see the wonder horse of the decade.”

Mott is expected to make a decision about the Big ‘Cap this weekend.

“It could be two [more] days, it could be two weeks, it could be two months,” Mott said. “All of these things are different. If he’s all right by [today], we’d still go out there, but by the looks of it, he won’t be. We have no immediate plans. You don’t make plans when you have a problem.”

Last year, the Big ‘Cap lost the 1994 horse of the year when Holy Bull was injured. A month before the race, Holy Bull broke down in the Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park and was retired. Long before the injury, Santa Anita had changed the date of the Big ‘Cap to accommodate the colt’s schedule.

The Donn last year was won by an unheralded Cigar, who was on the ground floor of a near-record winning streak. Cigar’s victory in this year’s Donn, on Feb. 10, was his 13th in a row, the longest unbeaten run since Personal Ensign in 1986-88 and three short of Citation’s record of 16 in 1948 and 1950. Citation did not race in 1949 because of an injury.

This year, to attract owner-breeder Allen Paulson and Cigar, Santa Anita, Hollywood Park and Del Mar joined with the MGM Grand, a casino-hotel in Las Vegas, to offer a $2-million bonus to any horse that sweeps the Big ‘Cap, the Hollywood Gold Cup and the Pacific Classic. Because of Cigar, there had been difficulty finding an insurance company that would guarantee the bonus, but the absence of Cigar will not reduce the premium the tracks and MGM Grand are paying their insurer.

A secondary bonus of $500,000 is also at stake in the three races. The top payout of $250,000 will go to the horse that runs in all three and compiles the most points for high finishes. The rest of the money will be paid to the next three horses in the point standings. A horse sweeping the series would not also be eligible for the lesser bonus.

Without Cigar, the 59th Santa Anita Handicap becomes a wide-open affair. Helmsman and Afternoon Deelites, who ran 1-2 in the Strub Stakes, will be among the favorites. Other contenders include Dare And Go, Afternoon Deelites’ stablemate who ran third in the San Antonio Handicap behind Alphabet Soup, another Big ‘Cap probable. Trainer Wayne Lukas, who had been debating about running his champion filly, Serena’s Song, is almost certain to run her if Cigar does not. Another probable is Urgent Request, winner of only one of five starts since winning the Big ‘Cap last year.

Instead of the high weight being Cigar, at an estimated 130 pounds, that distinction could go to Helmsman or Alphabet Soup, at about 10 pounds less. Weights will be announced Sunday.

“It’s a relief not having to run against Cigar, but I know it’s a big disappointment for the public,” said Richard Mandella, who trains Afternoon Deelites and Dare And Go.

After Cigar galloped at Gulfstream on Monday and Tuesday, Mott discovered the injury Wednesday. The 6-year-old had been scheduled for a workout Thursday. Mott probably would have given his horse a breeze next week, before flying him to California a day or two before the race.

“I wouldn’t bring him out to California if he was less than 100%,” Mott said. “This is a day-to-day thing.”

Cigar’s scheduled race after the Big ‘Cap was to be the $4-million Dubai World Cup in the United Arab Emirates on March 27.

Horse Racing Notes

The field could grow to 12 or more for the Big ‘Cap with Cigar out. New possible starters are Just Java and Cezind, who would give trainer Charlie Whittingham his 65th starter in the race. Whittingham has won the race nine times, first in 1957 with Corn Husker, most recently with Sir Beaufort in 1993. . . . Eddie Delahoussaye has picked up the mount on Mr Purple. . . . Tailloires, who would have been the high weight in Sunday’s $75,000 San Marino Handicap, has a splint injury and will be sidelined for about two months.