Cigar Street Pointing Toward Louisiana Derby

Trainer Steve Margolis pronounced Jake Ballis’s Cigar Street ready for the $1 million Louisiana Derby (gr. II) after the Street Sense   colt breezed five furlongs in 1:01 1/5 March 25.

“We’re good (for the local Derby),” said Margolis. “He pulled up good and everything is fine, now.”

Cigar Street, who broke his maiden by 13 ¾ lengths March 10 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, was timed in partial early splits of :12 3/5 and :49 4/5 over the track. Margolis timed him galloping out six furlongs in 1:15 and change.

Also working March 25 for the April 1 Louisiana Derby was Jim Tafel’s Afford, another son of Street Sense who went five-eighths in 1:01 4/5. Afford finished sixth in a troubled trip in the Feb. 25 Risen Star (gr. II). Afford is trained by Greg Geier.