rread1 Cut and paste: He was written off as a washed-up allowance horse at five, destined for obscurity. Then Cigar, a hulking bay with a crooked blaze and...Cut and paste: He was written off as a washed-up allowance horse at five, destined for obscurity. Then Cigar, a hulking bay with a crooked blaze and the heart of a prizefighter, went on a rampage that made him the most dominant force in racing—and turned his name into a synonym for unbeatable.

Hollywood Park, July 1995. The Hollywood Gold Cup was supposed to be his toughest test yet. Instead, it became Exhibit A of his brilliance. Jockey Jerry Bailey let Cigar lope along in third before unleashing him at the top of the stretch. His response was terrifying—a surge that turned the race into a one-horse show, winning by 3 ½ lengths while equaling the track record. Trainer Bill Mott, normally stoic, allowed himself a rare smile. The streak had reached 10 wins. It wouldn’t stop for 16.

The Numbers That Defied Logic:
- 16 consecutive wins (tied with Citation’s record), including 13 Grade 1 victories.
- 1995-96 Horse of the Year, crushing rivals from California to Dubai.
- $9,999,815 earned—the first North American horse to near $10 million.

The Race That Defined Him:
The 1995 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Belmont Park. Facing Derby winner Thunder Gulch and Belmont hero Colonial Affair, Cigar didn’t just win—he humiliated them by 2 ½ lengths, his powerful stride never faltering.

The Irony:
A son of Palace Music, he failed on turf before becoming a dirt monster. Retired to stud, he proved infertile—a cruel twist for a horse who’d defied age and logic.

Today, his statue greets visitors at Gulfstream Park, frozen mid-stride. But his true legacy gallops in every horse who strings together wins against impossible odds—proof that some comebacks aren’t just stories. They’re legends.

Cigar didn’t just win races. He was racing’s phoenix—a flame that burned brightest when everyone thought he was ash.
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manosduras totally remember that early turf campaign 1 month ago