HOT SPRINGS, Ark., April 15 -- Cigar, the dominant handicap horse in Florida this winter, whipped an international field of challengers with relative ease Saturday in the $750,000 Oaklawn Handicap. With Jerry Bailey riding, Cigar tracked the early pace, challenged for the lead on the turn for home with Silver Goblin, then drew off to win by 2 1/2 lengths.
Silver Goblin held second, breaking an eight-race winning streak extending back nearly a year. Concern, winner of last year's $3 million Breeders' Cup Classic, was third. The 1 1/8 mile went in 1:47 1/5 on a fast track. Cigar paid $5.40, $3.40 and $2.60; Silver Goblin $4.80 and $2.80; Concern $2.60. The $2 exacta paid $28.60. Best Pal, the leading money-winner among active horses, was fourth. Johann Quatz, a French-bred veteran, was fifth and Irish-bred Urgent Request, coming off a victory in the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap, was sixth. 'This is about as competitive a field as you could put together,' said winning trainer Bill Mott. 'It was a good race track and everybody had a chance. Among them, the seven starters came into the race with combined lifetime earnings of $11,749,000. Al Horton, owner of Silver Goblin, said his horse 'ran big, a tremendous race. We are happy with it. They'll have a hard time now, keeping him out of the top 10 (poll).' It was the first defeat for Silver Goblin since he was unplaced in last year's Preakness. Cigar, owned and bred by Allen Paulson, is a 5-year-old son of Palace Music from the Seattle Slew mare Solar Slew. The victory was his sixth in a row, including the Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park Feb. 11 in which Holy Bull suffered a career-ending injury.
