Forgotten Hero surprises with Fifth Avenue triumph

Trainer John Toscano Jr. primarily operates a claiming operation and is not known for his work with 2-year-olds. Apparently, nobody told Forgotten Hero, who on Saturday at Aqueduct improved her record to 2 for 2 by upsetting the $150,000 Fifth Avenue division of the New York Stallion Stakes.

Toscano has started only eight 2-year-olds the past five years and prior to Forgotten Hero had not won with a juvenile since December 2015. Forgotten Hero put him back in the win column Nov. 4 when she went wire to wire under jockey Mike Luzzi to win her debut by 5 1/2 lengths at 11-1.

On Saturday she broke running in the six-furlong Fifth Avenue and pressed the pace outside 1-2 favorite Sassy Agnes, who was gunning for her fourth straight stakes win for Linda Rice.

Luzzi sent Forgotten Hero to the lead leaving the half-mile pole and opened a clear advantage on the turn. Sassy Agnes and jockey Junior Alvarado tried to come on again from the outside in the stretch but failed to reach Forgotten Hero and had to settle for second, beaten one length.

"We knew Linda's horse was very fast, but my filly's really fast," Luzzi said. "I just stayed away from Junior and we just bided our time and let the race spread out. I had a lot left heading for home."

Forgotten Hero was timed in 1:13.08 over a "good" track and paid $13.60 as the third choice in the six-horse field.

It was 7 1/4 lengths back from Sassy Agnes to Cartwheelin Lulu, who finished third at 7-2. L.A. Page, who finished fifth, broke slowly.

Toscano, 74, knew from the start Forgotten Hero had ability, but even he was surprised how easily she put away Sassy Agnes midway through the Fifth Avenue.

"The first time we breezed her she looked like something special," Toscano said. "She came through for us today. The second quarter she really took off like a shotgun. It was unbelievable. I didn't think she was that good, but she really fooled me."

Forgotten Hero is owned by Charles Festa Jr. and Toscano. In 2003, the two claimed Forgotten Hero's dam, Seattle Ash, for $16,000 at Aqueduct and she made the final four of her 31 career starts for them without winning. Forgotten Hero is her first stakes winner from eight foals to race.

Festa bred Forgotten Hero in partnership with Sequel Stallions, which stands her sire, Mission Impazible, in Hudson, N.Y.