World traveler MENDELSSOHN and emerging star COPPER TOWN headline a prospective field of 10 for the 30th running of the Grade 1, $750,000 Cigar Mile Handicap scheduled for December 1st at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The Cigar Mile, (the cornerstone of the Aqueduct autumn meet) will headline a lucrative day of racing at the Big A.  Which will also feature the Grade 2, $250,000 Remsen for 2-year-olds, the Grade 2, $250,000 Demoiselle for 2-year-old fillies, and the Grade 3, $250,000 Go For Wand Handicap for fillies and mares at a mile.

MENDELSSOHN, who is trained by Aidan O’Brien has competed at racetracks across the globe with wins in Ireland, Dubai, and he earned his first Grade 1 score last season in the U.S. when he was victorious in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, at Del Mar.

COPPER TOWN, trained by Todd Pletcher arrives at the Cigar Mile on a three-race win streak.  Following a one-year layoff, the talented colt returned to racing at Keeneland‘s fall meet with a five-length romp when sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs.

“This is only his second start off a long layoff and his comeback race was quite good,” said Pletcher.  “He’s a horse we’ve always had high expectations for.  We’re just hoping for a steady campaign with him.  COPPER TOWN is doing great, he has been training exceptionally well.”

Also in The Cigar Mile, leading New York trainer Chad Brown is expected to saddle two multiple Graded Stakes winners, TIMELINE and PATTERNRECOGNITION.

Stop back to the Daily Racing Blog on Friday as we will make our usual daring, long-shot, ‘make-some-bank’, choices on all the above mentioned features at Aqueduct on Saturday.