Aqueduct: Boys At Tosconova fitter for second start of comeback

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – All eyes will be on Boys At Tosconova on Friday, when last year’s Hopeful winner and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile runner-up makes his second start back from a layoff in a nonwinners-of-three-lifetime allowance at 6 1/2 furlongs.

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Boys At Tosconova drew the outside post in a field of six. Leave of Absence, the only other 3-year-old, will break from post 5. The four older runners – Bernie the Maestro, Fiscal Stimulus, Hillswick, and Starforaday – are all in for the optional $35,000 claiming price.

Boys At Tosconova was bet to 1-2 when he returned from an 11-month absence at Belmont Park on Oct. 8, but appeared to have his heels clipped early by Starforaday and finished evenly for third behind front-running winner Tapizar, who subsequently ran fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.
“I thought he ran good,” said trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. “But he did get pretty tired and he came out of that race and started training much better, so I’m under the impression he needed the race.”

Boys At Tosconova has breezed three times over Aqueduct’s main track since his comeback, capped by a six-furlong move in 1:13.

“I like his post, and this looks like the right kind of a crowd for him to show off a little bit,” said Dutrow. “I told the owner, ‘I’m sure by the time he gallops out, we’ll know which direction to point him in.’ ”