Cigar's maiden win...

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by GPK

a serious question.

was there a reason ever given for running all those races on turf?

At that time of year in CA (early summer), the focus for the 3yo division switches to the turf. Aside from the Swaps Stakes in July, which his connections were unlikely to point for off a 6f maiden win, the next graded stakes on dirt for 3yos in CA was the Laz Barrera in late November. Being a highly touted horse prior to his career debut and given his turf pedigree, it would seem possible that his connections thought that races like the Del Mar, Oak Tree, and Hollywood Derbies were the most appropriate targets at that stage of his career, particularly after breaking his first condition on the turf.

What DrugS fails to add to his 11-race losing streak on turf was that the horse placed in multiple graded stakes on grass (at least during his 3yo year). Cigar also had knee surgery at the end of the year at 3, so its possible he was put on turf for soundness issues as well.