Aqueduct: Strapping Groom tough in Toboggan - if he goes

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – On paper, Strapping Groom is definitively the horse to beat in Saturday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Toboggan Stakes at Aqueduct.

But trainer David Jacobson said Thursday that Strapping Groom has been dealing with a quarter crack, and he will not make a decision on whether to run the Grade 1 winner until the morning of the race. The quarter crack has been patched, and the horse has been training.

“We’re only going to run if he’s right,” Jacobson said Thursday. “I’m just being cautious. I think he can run good enough. It’s a decision I’ll make the morning of the race. If the race was today, he would run.”

Strapping Groom, a 7-year-old son of Johannesburg, lost four consecutive races after winning the Grade 1 Forego in the slop at Saratoga in August. He returned to form by winning the Gravesend by 6 1/2 lengths on Dec. 21, earning a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 110.

Jacobson scratched him out of a stakes at Laurel on Jan. 4, because he didn’t want to ship him from New York to Maryland on icy roads.

Irad Ortiz Jr. replaces the injured Junior Alvarado on Strapping Groom, who carries top weight of 123 pounds from post 5.

Jacobson entered three horses in the Toboggan, including Praetereo, who Jacobson said would not run if Strapping Groom runs, and Candyman E. Candyman E won the Dec. 13 Spooky Mulder Stakes first off the claim for Jacobson, who took him for $62,500.

“Candyman E is doing the best he’s done since I’ve had him,” Jacobson said.

Trainer Rudy Rodriguez has the uncoupled entry of Dads Caps and Don Tito in the field. Dads Caps, who has a lot of early speed, finished second to Candyman E in the Spooky Mulder last out. Don Tito, whom Rodriguez claimed from Jacobson in early October, won a second-level allowance Dec. 28. Prior to that, he had been off for two months owing to a quarter crack, Rodriguez said.

“He ran a very good race when Candyman E beat us,” Rodriguez said. “Maybe Dads Caps and Strapping Groom hook up, and we can pick up some pieces.”

Angel Arroyo rides Don Tito from post 2. C.C. Lopez rides Dads Caps from post 6.

Trainer John Terranova said he entered Bet the Power because, aside from Strapping Groom, he felt the horse fit with the rest of the field. Terranova claimed Bet the Power from Jacobson for $62,500 in November two starts back, and in his only start since then Bet the Power won an optional claimer.

“He impressed me the day we claimed him,” Terranova said. “He acts like a nice horse. He seems to be in good form, so hopefully we can keep it up.”

Non Stop, an 8 1/2-length winner of a starter allowance here New Year’s Day, and Sensational Slam, who has a 4-3-1 record from 9 starts over the inner track, complete the field.