The annual Thanksgiving HolidayFest at the Big A turned into the RepoleFest as horses owned by Long Island multi-millionaire and diehard Mets fan Mike Repole won five stakes in three days, culminating with a thrilling photo-finish victory by Stay Thirsty over champion filly Groupie Doll in yesterday’s Grade 1, $350,000 Cigar Mile, the final start of the 2011 Travers winner’s career.
In the two races preceding the Cigar Mile, Repole’s 2-year-old filly Unlimited Budget followed up her 9 1/2-length maiden romp two weeks ago with a 1 1/4-length score in the Grade 2, $250,000 Demoiselle, and his 2-year-old colt Overanalyze nosed out Normandy Invasion in the Grade 2, $250,000 Remsen.
On Thanksgiving Day, Repole’s 7-year-old Caixa Eletronica won the Grade 3, $150,000 Fall Highweight, and Friday his 2-year-old Notacatbutallama won the $80,000 Super Mario. All five winners are trained by Todd Pletcher.
“Aqueduct is not the prettiest place in the world, but it means a lot to me, it means lot to my friends, it means a lot to my family,” said Repole, a St. John’s graduate who made his fortune developing and selling Vitamin Water. “I grew up 10 minutes from here. I said, ‘This is my Breeders’ Cup weekend.’ I don’t care how long I’m in racing, you’re not going to win three graded stakes in a row.
“This is a special, special bittersweet moment [for Stay Thirsty] to go out a winner. He had the lead one time, and it happened to be when the wire came up. What a great feeling, just amazing.”
Buffum and California shipper Coil dueled for the lead in the Cigar Mile through a soft pace of :23.80 and :47.04, with Groupie Doll parked right outside them under Rajiv Maragh, closer to the pace than usual. Those three were heads apart across the track as they turned for home, with Stay Thirsty, after getting a perfect trip under Ramon Dominguez parked in right behind them, swinging out for the attack.
Through the final furlong, Groupie Doll desperately clung to the lead, refusing to let Stay Thirsty pass until the final two strides.
* Jersey Town was scratched with a fever before the Cigar Mile and has been retired, according to trainer Barclay Tagg. The 6-year-old son of Speightstown won the 2010 Cigar Mile and this year’s Kelso.