Forced to juggle

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - It was a schedule that worked well last year. Trainer Richard Schosberg ran Affirmed Success in an allowance race early in January 2002 and the horse finished second. He came back to finish third in the General George and then followed with wins in the Toboggan and Grade 1 Carter.

This year, the harsh winter has required Schosberg to call a few audibles.

After winning a Jan. 10 allowance race at Aqueduct, Affirmed Success was entered in the General George at Laurel on Feb. 17. When the race was postponed five days because of a blizzard, Schosberg opted not to run in the rescheduled General George.

Instead, Schosberg entered Affirmed Success in a $54,000 allowance race at Aqueduct on Wednesday to prepare him for the $100,000 Toboggan on March 15. Affirmed Success, a 9-year-old with more than $2.2 million in earnings, is one of six older sprinters in the six-furlong race.

Wednesday's feature is the final leg of the pick six that has a carryover of $40,396.

"We had to change tactics," Schosberg said. "I hope it doesn't backfire, but this race should help him be tight for the Toboggan, and we shouldn't have to do much between races. The race at Laurel would have taken more out of him. I would rather run over dry and safe tracks, if I had my choice."

Richard Migliore rides Affirmed Success from post 3.

Affirmed Success figures to get a nice stalking trip behind speedballs Captain Red and Storm Commander.

Say Florida Sandy, another 9-year-old with earnings in excess of $2 million, is in the field, but may be scratched. Say Florida Sandy had been entered to run in the $75,000 Hollie Hughes, a New York-bred stakes, on two occasions. First scheduled for Feb. 16, the Hollie Hughes was brought back a week later because of a weather-related cancellation. Poor track conditions forced its cancellation a second time and now it will be run this Sunday.

Sunday's card was scrapped after the fifth race, but trainer Victor Cuadra had scratched Say Florida Sandy from the Hollie Hughes earlier in the day because the track was wet and he had Wednesday's race as a back-up plan.

Much to Cuadra's surprise, Affirmed Success was entered and the Hollie Hughes was rescheduled.

"What do we do now?" Cuadra said. "What a dilemma. I really want to run in the Hollie Hughes. I guess I'll take my chances with the weather this weekend."

for Aqueduct entries.

:: Subscribers: to purchase past performances for Aqueduct.

:: Non-subscribers: to purchase past performances for Aqueduct.