Longshot Tobias back on short rest in Sycamore

LEXINGTON, Ky. – It’s not often that you see a horse run back in five days, or make his fifth start in barely more than six weeks. But that will be the case Thursday when Tobias runs as a longshot in the Grade 3 Sycamore at 1 1/2 miles on the Keeneland turf.

Tobias, an 8-year-old gelding whose only victory in 37 career starts came in a non-wagering event in Georgia in 2015, is stabled on a private farm in Camden, S.C., and is trained and co-owned by Rafael Fernandez, who lives some 55 miles away from the farm in Charlotte, N.C. The gelding is transported back and forth by van between races.

“He bounced out of the race Saturday full of himself,” said Fernandez, who works full time in customer service for Amtrak and has compiled a career record of 4 for 219 as a part-time trainer.

Tobias has earned $169,242 by picking up checks with some regularity. Fernandez, 49, said he trains the gelding sparingly between races.

“Once I get him fit, he responds to the racing,” he said.

Tobias finished seventh Saturday in a 1 1/16-mile first-level allowance race at odds of 58-1.

“The only reason I ran him Saturday was to put a little speed in him,” Fernandez said, adding that the Sycamore would be the horse’s final start this year.

“After this, I’ll pull his shoes and turn him out until February,” Fernandez said.

The $100,000 Sycamore, which drew a competitive field of 13, is the first of four straight graded stakes this week at Keeneland. The others are the Grade 3 Valley View on Friday, the Grade 2 Raven Run on Saturday, and the Grade 3 Dowager on Sunday.