Codename Cigar Box narrowly missed out on first place in the $32,000 Preferred 2 Pace held at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Saturday, Feb. 10. However, an interference incident involving Reactor Now A led to a reversal of fortunes, with Codename Cigar Box ultimately claiming the victory.
Skillfully driven by Travis Cullen, Codename Cigar Box adopted a patient sixth position while the frontrunner, Powertrain, dictated the early pace with authority, clocking a swift :26.2 in the first quarter. As the race unfolded, Cold Creek Queso took over the lead at the half-mile mark, crossing the midway point in :54.4, only to face pressure from the hard-charging Rockabilly Rebel N, piloted by James MacDonald, as they hit three-quarters in 1:23.1. At the top of the stretch, Codename Cigar Box positioned himself third over, expertly manoeuvring past rivals to finish a mere three-quarters of a length behind Reactor Now A, who had stopped the clock at an impressive 1:51.4.
Upon careful review of the stretch drive, the judges unanimously determined that Reactor Now A had interfered with Saulsbrook Victor, veering into the path of the unfortunate gelding. This ruling propelled Codename Cigar Box to the top spot, securing a remarkable 12-1 triumph. With this victory, the six-year-old gelding, sired by Custard The Dragon and out of the exceptional Artsplace mare Art Amour, notched up his third win of the year 2024. The astute pairing of driver Travis Cullen, trainer Jodie Cullen, and owners Paul Sanders, A1stable, and Ron Cullen celebrated this momentous achievement.
Codename Cigar Box has now emerged victorious in three out of his six starts in 2024, amassing an impressive lifetime earning of $531,323. In another thrilling race that took place earlier in the evening, Whichwaytothebeach astounded spectators by clocking Canada's first sub-1:50 mile of the season, crossing the finish line in a blazing 1:49.2. This remarkable feat was accomplished under the skillful guidance of Sylvain Filion, with Garry Merner serving as the trainer and Gino Toscani as the proud owner.