ROLLS TO EASY VICTORY IN GRADE 1 RACE AT SARATOGA

Jenny Kellner
NYRA/Saratoga Race Course

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Boys At Tosconova lived up to advance billing Monday at Saratoga Race Course, coming from off the pace and pulling clear to a supremely easy 1 3/4-length victory over Stay Thirsty in the 106th running of the Grade 1, $250,000 Three Chimneys Hopeful for 2-year-olds.

Confidently ridden by Ramon Dominguez, the dark bay son of Officer settled on the outside in third, tracking Stay Thirsty and Wine Police through opening fractions of 23.15 and 46.38. Moving three-wide into contention on the turn, he continued to advance through the stretch, gaining the lead with a furlong to go and edging away under a hand ride to hit the wire in 1:23.27 over the fast track.

“He was good enough to get this job done, the right way,” said Rick Dutrow, who trains Boys At Tosconova for Jay Em Ess Stable, Hot Racing Stable, Richard T. Hale, Jr., Todd Cady and Denny Kanakaris. “It seems to us he has no limit. He’ll just keep running and running and running.”

A 12-length maiden winner at Belmont Park in his first start for Dutrow on July 2 – he had finished second in the Grade 3 Kentucky Juvenile in April for his former connections –

Boys At Tosconova will now train up to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs on November 6.

“He’s very exciting to be around,” said Dutrow, who trained 2008 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown “If he stays this way, and trains like he did coming into this race – he already likes that racetrack. It’s a matter of two turns with him, and we certainly are not going to be afraid of it.”

Sent off as the 1-2 favorite by the closing day crowd of 25,298, Boys At Tosconova returned $3.10 for a $2 win bet and earned $150,000 to increase his bankroll to $202,060.

“It’s really exciting for me because it’s hard to come across a 2-year-old this nice, especially to ride,” said Dominguez. “Like, every time you give him a chance he will take a deep breath, relax, and look around. He’s very, very professional. I didn’t have to hit him today, and hopefully, I won’t have to. It was that easy.”

Stay Thirsty, who stumbled out of the gate, was 1¾ lengths in front of Wine Police, with Settle for Medal finishing fourth. Nacho Saint, Chipshot, and Printing Press were scratched.

“He actually ran a really good race,” said John Velazquez, aboard the runner-up. “He got beat by a nice horse, and I’m proud of him. He did everything good, but win.”

Trainer Steve Asmussen was pleased with Wine Police. “We had a great trip. He ran great and it was a good race. I think that was a really good group and for his second race, that was a big step up. Everything went so easy with him the first time but I think he’ll get a lot out of this and hopefully he can train forward and he’ll stay at this level. He’s just a baby, second time out. We’ll see how he comes out and how much it took out of him and see if it changes his attitude or something, then we’ll look ahead but he had a good trip today.”

NYRA Photo
Boys At Tosconova is seen breaking his maiden on July 2 at Belmont Park.