Congaree, here winning his second consecutive Cigar Mile, will remain in training in 2004.
Millionaire Congaree, the 5 ¼-length winner of Saturday's Cigar Mile (gr. I) at Aqueduct, will be back in 2004 as a 6-year-old, trainer Bob Baffert said, with the Dubai World Cup (gr. I) and Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) at Lone Star Park being the chestnut's major goals. "After his huge effort in the Cigar Mile and after conferring with Bob and Janice McNair, we decided that Congaree will remain in training and return next year," Baffert said. "He went through a thorough inspection so we know he's in top shape and is extremely healthy; it's the right decision." Congaree is a son of Arazi and the Mari's Book mare Mari's Sheba and was bred in Kentucky by the McNair's Stonerside Stable Ltd. He's earned $3,241,400 with a record of 23-12-2-4 and is a five-time grade I winner, including this year's Carter Handicap, Hollywood Gold Cup and aforementioned Cigar Mile. He's also won five other graded stakes and placed in six more over four seasons of racing. "He'll have one race before the World Cup," Baffert said. "We don't know which one yet, but he'll stay in light training for the next several weeks while we decide. After Dubai he will be pointed to the Breeders' Cup Classic in the McNairs' home state of Texas." Congaree will be back in Baffert's Santa Anita shedrow on Tuesday.
