**This is part of a series that will profile the top New York-based contenders heading to the Breeders’ Cup. Please see the attached photo of Boys At Tosconova. Credit NYRA,
Friday, October 22, 2010
Contact: Jenny Kellner
“This summer, Rick got to spend a lot of quality time with Boys At Tosconova, and they’ve fallen in love,” laughed Siegel, who with her father, Mace, purchased a 75 percent interest in the Officer colt after his first start. “He’s very excited about him. We all are.”
It’s easy to see why.
Boys At Tosconova, a $35,000 yearling purchase who had finished second in the Grade 3 Kentucky Juvenile on April 30, made his first start carrying the Jay Em Ess Stable colors a memorable one. Sent off as the 2-5 favorite in five-furlong maiden race at Belmont Park on July 2, he proceeded to barrel to an eye-popping 12-length victory in 56.26 without breaking a sweat and earning a 102 Beyer Speed Figure, then the fastest of the year for a juvenile.
“We expected him to run well,” said Siegel, “but we didn’t expect that.”
Dutrow, looking down the road, was in no hurry to hustle Boys At Tosconova back to the races. He waited another two months before unleashing the colt on just three opponents in the seven-furlong Hopeful at Saratoga Race Course on September 6, when Boys At Tosconova glided past his rivals to an effortless 1 ¾-length win in 1:23.47.
“In their races, I don’t want my horses to do anything they don’t have to do,” said Dutrow. “His race in the Hopeful was very workmanlike, just beautiful. I didn’t see that he was asked to run at all by Ramon; he just galloped past the other horses, which is what I wanted.”
Once again, Dutrow elected to give Boys At Tosconova another lengthy break, and the colt has continued to impress his trainer, jockey and those who get on him in the mornings with both his attitude and his works, including a six-furlong move in 1:10.90 at Aqueduct on October 14.
“I can’t believe we are so lucky to have a horse like this,” said the trainer. “I’ve never had a 2-year-old like him. He loves being a young little racehorse. He’s like a young punk – he thinks he’s all that. And we’re not going to straighten him out, either. He wants to go out and show everyone how good he is every day.”
Boys At Tosconova will get that chance at Churchill Downs in the 1 1/16-mile Juvenile, which will be his first start around two turns, and first in which he will take on more than seven opponents, likely among them Grade 1 Champagne winner Uncle Mo, Hopeful runner-up Stay Thirsty, and Grade 1 Norfolk winner Jaycito.
“It is two turns, which we’re not afraid of, and you would think the competition is going to be tougher than what he’s faced so far,” said Dutrow. “We really don’t know what’s around the corner. But if he stays the way he is now, we are going to be so excited to see him run. We can’t wait to find out.”
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