Salutos Amigos tries to ride Toboggan to Dubai

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Salutos Amigos will be attempting to earn himself a trip out of the frigid confines of Aqueduct and into the warmth of a Dubai desert evening when he heads a field of six entered in Saturday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Toboggan Stakes.

If Salutos Amigos maintains his excellent form by adding the Toboggan to victories in the Fall Highweight and Gravesend, then he probably will earn himself a trip overseas for the Dubai Golden Shaheen at Meydan on March 28.

“Right now, it’s a very serious thought,” said David Jacobson, the trainer and part-owner of Salutos Amigos. “I won’t know until after he runs.”

Jacobson also hasn’t ruled out wheeling Salutos Amigos back in nine days in the General George Handicap at Laurel Park on Feb. 16 before going to Dubai.

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In order to win the Toboggan, Salutos Amigos and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. likely will have to run down Dads Caps, who finished third behind Salutos Amigos in the Gravesend. Trainer Rudy Rodriguez is adding blinkers to Dads Caps’s equipment.

Both Salutos Amigos and Dads Caps have to carry 123 pounds, spotting their four rivals nine pounds.

Mewannarose finished second to Salutos Amigos in the Fall Highweight and Gravesend and is back to try him again.

Completing the field are Doubledown Again, who earned a 104 Beyer Speed Figure in winning an allowance race here in December, Green Gratto, and Crafty Dreamer.

KEY CONTENDERS

Salutos Amigos (Last 3 Beyers: 109-105-87)

◗ Salutos Amigos has won three of his last four starts, including the Grade 3 Fall Highweight and Gravesend.

◗ Jacobson said Salutos Amigos is doing as well as ever, but he expressed concern about Dads Caps getting loose on the lead.

“You’re always afraid of that when you don’t have a real speed horse,” Jacobson said. “Of course, it’s a concern, but that’s why I’ve got Irad. I’ll let him use his best judgment when to make his move.”

Dads Caps (Last 3 Beyers: 101-94-105)

◗ He was the runner-up to the Jacobson-trained Candyman E in last year’s Toboggan and to the Jacobson-trained Strapping Groom in the Tom Fool before upsetting the Grade 1 Carter at 10-1.

◗ Rodriguez is adding blinkers to the 5-year-old’s equipment because of a few recent inconsistent performances. Jose Ortiz rides.

“I’m going to try to tell Jose to put him on the lead and let them try to catch him,” Rodriguez said.

Doubledown Again (Last 3 Beyers: 104-93-96)

◗ If there’s an upsetter in the group, it could be this 5-year-old gelding by Rockport Harbor. He comes off a sharp win in the slop over the inner track Dec. 10.

◗ He has a 2-1-1 record from four starts since being claimed for $50,000 by trainer Michelle Nevin last summer at Saratoga.