Five strong entrants take Toboggan ride

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Saturday's $100,000-added Toboggan Handicap at Aqueduct reunites the top three finishers from a February allowance race that was run in track-record time.

Captain Red, who established a six-furlong inner track record of 1:07.93 in that race on Feb. 26, is among seven older males entered in the six-furlong Toboggan. The strong field also includes the last two winners of the Toboggan, Grade 1 winners Peeping Tom and Affirmed Success. Adding depth to the race is Multiple Choice, who won last year's Sport Page and Gravesend handicaps, and Gold I.D., who finished second to Captain Red in his last start.

Multiple Choice, the 119-pound highweight, has been sidelined with a quarter crack since winning the Grade 3 Gravesend on Dec. 29.

The Grade 3 Toboggan originally was scheduled for seven furlongs before the main track's opening was delayed due to weather.

The change in distance suits Captain Red's connections, who would not have run if the Toboggan was at seven furlongs. Captain Red's owner, Anthony Pyliotis, said it took time for his horse to recover from his front-running track-record performance.

"I didn't think he would be 100 percent ready for this," Pyliotis said. "But he got his rest and started to feel good at the end of last week."

Captain Red looms the main speed, but will have to break running to clear the field from post 7. Apprentice John McKee rides.

Affirmed Success, third behind Captain Red and Gold I.D. on Feb. 26, is better suited to seven furlongs, but is the class of the field. In his last race, Affirmed Success was hesitant to go through an opening on the rail in deep stretch and jockey Richard Migliore steadied the gelding. Affirmed Success finished between Captain Red and Gold I.D., beaten a length for the win.

"If he stayed on the rail, something was going to happen," said Richard Schosberg, Affirmed Success's trainer. "With a clean trip, maybe he wins and gets the track record."

Migliore, shooting for his fifth Toboggan victory, rides Affirmed Success, who drew post 3.

Peeping Tom, who defeated Captain Red two starts back, has returned to good form after a dry spell. In his last race, Peeping Tom was no match for My Cousin Matt, who ran a huge race to win the General George at Laurel by three lengths. Peeping Tom was second.

"He's sharp enough now," said Pat Reynolds, Peeping Tom's trainer.

Shaun Bridgmohan, who has won two of the last three runnings of the Toboggan, rides Peeping Tom.

Judge's Case and The Deputy Is Home complete the field.

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