CIGAR RUNS BACK TO WINNER'S CIRCLE.

Byline: Associated Press

The sign a fan waved as Cigar walked on to the track Saturday at Belmont Park was right on the money. ``No upset today,'' it read.

Cigar dominated four rivals to win the $500,000 Woodward Stakes to the cheers of the railbirds in his first start since his winning streak was snapped at 16 in a second-place finish to Dare and Go in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar.

The crowd of 16,701 cheered loudly as Cigar appeared for the Woodward. They cheered him through the stretch and into the winner's circle, and they cheered again it was announced that owner Allen Paulson rejected a $30 million offer from Japanese interests and that he will breed Cigar at his farm in Kentucky.

``I think redemption is my feeling,'' jockey Jerry Bailey said after Cigar's four-length victory over L'Carriere. ``I couldn't wait for today and I think Cigar couldn't wait for today.''

Said Jim Bond, L'Carriere's trainer: ``Racing needs a hero. God bless Mr. Paulson and Mr. Mott (trainer Bill Mott) for keeping him running. As much as I want to win the race and beat this horse, this is the only horse I'd root for if I wasn't going to win.''

The 6-year-old Cigar, the 1-5 favorite, completed 1-1/8 miles in 1:47.06. Last year, Cigar won the Woodward in 1:47.07.

Golden Larch finished another half-length back and was three-quarters of a length ahead of Smart Strike. Eltish finished last. Petionville was scratched.

Cigar was fourth behind L'Carriere, Smart Strike and Eltish on the 4-1/2-furlong backstretch. On the turn, Cigar began to move outside horses as the crowd roared.

Just past the quarter pole, Cigar swept past L'Carriere and into the lead. He then ran through the stretch to a hero's welcome.

``He only paid $2.70,'' Mott said, ``but they (the fans) were into the beauty of it.''

The $300,000 winner's purse boosted Cigar's career earnings to $9,313,815.

As for the offer to sell to Japanese interests, Paulson said, ``We've had a lot of letters telling us that he's America's horse and not to sell him - and we're not selling him.''

Mott said plans call for Cigar to race next in the Jockey Club Gold Cup on Oct. 5 at Belmont, then conclude his career in the $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic on Oct. 26 at Woodbine near Toronto.

In other races at Belmont:

Diplomatic Jet ($25.20) and jockey Jorge Chavez took the lead in the upper stretch and won the $400,000 Man o' War Stakes by two lengths over Mecke, who rallied from last despite a slow early pace in the 1-3/8-mile turf race.

Yank's Music ($6.20) nipped champion Serena's Song by a neck in the $250,000 Ruffian Handicap for fillies and mares.

Charges dropped: Much-publicized charges of animal cruelty against trainer Frank Passero, who won a national-record 14 straight races in Florida last winter, were dropped after a groom's admission was ruled inadmissible. Passero has acknowledged using the substance known as Fiery Jack, but only as a muscle relaxant on horse' legs, not on their genitals, as alleged.