Conditions favor Man of Danger

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Man of Danger has won 9 of 24 starts and earned nearly $300,000, but has yet to win a stakes race. That could change Saturday when the speedy 6-year-old Man of Danger meets five rivals in the Grade 3, $100,000 Toboggan Handicap over Aqueduct's inner track.

The Toboggan is the highlight of the undercard to the Grade 3, $250,000 Gotham Stakes for 3-year-olds. The 10-race card begins at 1 p.m. Eastern.

An evenly matched field of six was entered for the Toboggan with just two pounds separating the group. Man of Danger may rate a slight edge based on his success over the inner track as well as his 3-for-5 mark on wet surfaces. The forecast calls for heavy windswept rain on Saturday.

Man of Danger has made his last two starts over the inner track, winning a third-level allowance race before finishing second in the Paumonok Handicap. In the Paumonok, Man of Danger bore out at the break and set a pressured pace before giving way to Lord Snowdon late. Lord Snowdon came back to run a good second to Bustin Stones in the Grade 2 General George Handicap at Laurel.

"He ran hard, he got pressed, they're always tough when you're second," trainer Bruce Levine said of Man of Danger's Paumonok. "The winner had a good trip and come back and ran good down in Maryland so at least I know he got beat by a legitimate horse."

Man of Danger will break from post 5 under C.C. Lopez.

Man of Danger will likely have to deal with pressure from Ravalo, drawn to his outside. Ravalo, based in Maryland with trainer Donald Barr, has won five of his last six starts, including the Impressive Stakes here on Feb. 17. Mike Luzzi rides.

Sir Greeley, a multiple stakes winner, returns from a 105-day layoff. After undergoing surgery to remove an ankle chip last winter, Sir Greeley ran three times last fall, including a well-beaten second-place finish to Tasteyville in the Grade 3 Sport Page Handicap over a sloppy track. Sir Greeley was also beaten a neck in the Grade 1 Carter over a sloppy surface.

Santana Strings is 1 for 21 since giving trainer Steve Asmussen his 3,000th career victory in the Grade 2 Amsterdam Handicap in 2005. He is coming off a second-place finish to Benny the Bull in the Sunshine Millions Sprint at Gulfstream.

City Attraction, who won the Grade 3 Gravesend in December, and Bold Start, an allowance winner last out at Gulfstream, complete the field.