Driven by Success primed for Toboggan
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Driven by Success will try to establish himself as a serious member of the sprint division, while Lucky Island and Ah Day hope to jumpstart their once high-profile careers when the three collide in a strong renewal of the Grade 3, $100,000 Toboggan Stakes over six furlongs at Aqueduct.
Driven by Success, a 4-year-old New York-bred son of Precise End, won two races in 20 days last summer at Saratoga before being sidelined by a splint bone injury. He returned with a strong second-level allowance victory against statebreds in which he ran six furlongs in 1:09.30 and earned a 106 Beyer Speed Figure.
Trainer Bruce Levine does not anticipate a regression for Driven by Success, who has worked three times in the 28 days between starts.
"The race was relatively easy on him, I could have run him back in 10 days or two weeks without batting an eyelash," Levine said. "It was, to me, a perfect comeback race; it didn't stress him in any way."
Driven by Success, whose primary weapon is his early speed, breaks from the rail under Rajiv Maragh.
"I'd rather have 1 than 9," Levine said. "He's got speed, so why wouldn't you want to be inside?"
There is plenty of other speed in the field, including Place Your Bet, Joey P., West Coast Flier, and Saint Daimon.
Lucky Island won four consecutive races last summer, including the Bold Ruler and Tom Fool handicaps. He was hampered by a foot injury last fall and comes off a last-place finish in the Gravesend on Dec. 26. His connections are using the Toboggan as a jump-off point to his 5-year-old season.
"Training very well, sound, no issues," said Art Magnuson, assistant to trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. "We're looking forward to '09 being a good year. We're not sure about the inner track for him, but we're going to run."
Alan Garcia rides Lucky Island from post 5.
If, as expected, the pace is strong, that might set things up nicely for Ah Day, who returns from a 216-day layoff for legendary Maryland trainer King Leatherbury. Ah Day has been working nothing but bullets for his return and he did win a stakes at Laurel off a 249-day layoff last year.
"He's ready," said Leatherbury, who hopes apprentice Sheldon Russell can pick up his career first stakes win in the Toboggan.
Grand Champion, the 2007 Fall Highweight winner, and Eternal Star complete the field.