NEW YORK (AP) Connect beat Divining Rod by a head at the end of a stretch duel Saturday in the $500,000 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct.
A late developing 3-year-old facing older horses for the first time in a stakes race, Connect won for the fifth time in six starts this season. Ridden by Javier Castellano and trained by Chad Brown, the Pennsylvania Derby winner was part of a four-horse battle turning for home. It turned into a two-horse contest as Connect and Divining Rod pulled away from the pack in the final furlong.
Divining Rod held the slightest advantage until Connect pushed on in the final strides.
Connect paid $5, $3.30 and $2.80 as the 3-2 favorite.
Divining Rod returned $5.10 and $4.90 and Realm paid $7 to show.
The time was 1:35.34 in the final Grade 1 stakes of the year in New York.
