Fast pace should benefit Wild Jam

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - With more time between races and a seemingly better pace scenario, Wild Jam may be able to turn the tables on Bishop Court Hill in Saturday's Grade 3, $100,000 Toboggan Handicap at Aqueduct.

A field of six was entered for the Toboggan, the first graded event run in New York in two months. Normally contested at seven furlongs on the main track, the Toboggan will be run at six furlongs over the inner track because the meet has been extended to March 26 this year.

finished third behind Bishop Court Hill in the Paumonok in January. That day, Bishop Court Hill, in his first start off a seven-week freshening, was able to use the inside post to his advantage as he scooted to a clear lead and was never headed. Meanwhile, Wild Jam, who was running back in 20 days off a big effort, broke from post 6, was between horses early, then had slight trouble finding running room in the stretch. When he did, Wild Jam finished well and was beaten less than two lengths.

"I thought he ran a real good race,'' said Ben Perkins Jr., the trainer of Wild Jam. "He had the outside post and the other horse had the rail when it was so fast. This race looks like it's come up with a little more speed.''

, the starting highweight at 117 pounds from post 2, will likely have to deal with early pressure from Kazoo to his inside and Banjo Picker from post 4. Banjo Picker won the Grade 3 Gravesend here in January and comes off an allowance win at Philadelphia Park on Jan. 31.

After winning the Toboggan over the inner track last winter, Primary Suspect couldn't handle Grade 1 company in the Carter or the wet-fast track in the Maryland Breeders' Cup Handicap on Preakness Day. He was given the remainder of the year off and has been training steadily at Gulfstream Park for trainer Mark Hennig.

has run some races in Canada that are good enough to win this for Frank Stronach and trainer Justin Nixon.

* Ramon Dominguez won five races on Thursday's card. Dominguez won the third with Devil's Last Dance ($5.90), the fifth with Commander Matt ($7.10), the sixth with Fort Carillon ($9.70), the eighth with No Sleep ($2.80), and the ninth with Safe Signal ($6.60). Dominguez, who didn't ride the first month of the inner track meet, has moved within three of Eibar Coa, 80-77, for top honors at the meet.

* P.J. Campo, the New York Racing Association's racing secretary, became a father for the second time on Wednesday when his wife, Jeanette, gave birth to a baby girl named Anna Elizabeth, who weighed in at 7 pounds, 13 ounces.