New York Racing Association's morning-line odds maker, David Aragona, truly captured the essence of the Grade 2 Cigar Mile when he posted on X, stating, "This was a tough one." With an expected fantastic and highly competitive field of 11 set to face starter's orders on Saturday at Aqueduct, Aragona's morning line reveals that five of the entrants are priced at 6-1 or below, with Post Time being the 7-2 favorite.

ML Odds for the Cigar Mile - A Tough Call

Here are the detailed morning-line odds for the Cigar Mile. As Aragona mentioned, this was indeed a challenging race to assess. The field is filled with talented horses, each with their own chances.

Locked - The Likely Winner

Locked made a remarkable comeback with an impressive 7 1/2-length victory in an optional-claiming allowance event at Aqueduct after finishing third in the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. This victory was achieved at seven furlongs and earned a great Ragozin figure. Now, with an extra furlong in this race and being second off the layoff, Locked looks primed for further improvement. This definitely makes him a strong contender and the most likely winner in the eyes of many bettors. From a pace perspective, he seems to be in a good position to capitalize on the likely race dynamics.

His previous performance shows his ability to handle different race conditions and distances. The extra furlong might not be a challenge for him, as he has shown the potential to stretch out and perform well. His victory in the previous race gives him confidence and momentum going into this important event.

While there are other strong contenders in the field, Locked's combination of form, recent performance, and pace advantage makes him stand out. Bettors are keeping a close eye on him as he is likely to be a key player in the win pool.

Book’em Danno - Another Promising Contender

Book’em Danno is another 3-year-old that should not be overlooked. If the money gravitates towards the older horses, then he might offer good value in the race. He has shown potential and has the ability to perform well on the track.

However, compared to Locked, he is a longer price on the morning line. This indicates that there might be some uncertainty surrounding his chances. But his form and potential cannot be ignored, and he could be a dark horse in the race if the right conditions arise.

His training and recent workouts suggest that he is in good shape and ready to give a good fight. Bettors will be watching his progress closely to see if he can make a move and challenge for the top spot.

Señor Buscador - A Pace-Favored Contender

Señor Buscador is the fifth choice on the morning line and shares a similar pace advantage as Locked. From a pace perspective, he is well-positioned to take advantage of the race conditions.

His ability to handle the pace and run well in a competitive field gives him a chance to perform well. While he may not be the favorite, his form and pace potential make him a contender to watch.

However, he will face stiff competition from the other horses in the field. The key will be how he handles the added pressure and if he can maintain his pace throughout the race.

Mullikin - Stretching Out for the First Time

Mullikin is stretching out to a mile for the first time in this race. At his best, he is one of the faster horses in the field. But he will have company up front and will have to go farther than he has ever gone before.

This presents a challenge for him, as he needs to adapt to the longer distance and handle the added competition. His speed and early pace will be crucial in this race.

If he can handle the stretch and maintain his speed, he could be a factor in the finish. But it will be a test of his stamina and ability to handle different race conditions.