Salutos Amigos will wheel back on short rest in General George

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Salutos Amigos, who rallied from last to first to win Saturday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Toboggan Stakes at Aqueduct, will wheel back in nine days and run Feb. 16 in the Grade 2, $250,000 General George Handicap at Laurel Park, trainer and part-owner David Jacobson said Sunday.

“He came out of the race like he didn’t even run,” Jacobson said. “I’m definitely going to enter him in the General George.”

Before the Toboggan, Jacobson also had mentioned running Salutos Amigos in the Dubai Golden Shaheen on March 28 at Meydan. He said he will make a decision on that after the General George.

“Either that or the Carter,” said Jacobson, referring to the Grade 1 race April 4 at Aqueduct.

Salutos Amigos sustained a cut above the coronet band on his left hind leg, which was bleeding following the Toboggan. Jacobson said the area was worked on yesterday after the race, and in “two or three days, it won’t be a discussion.”

In the Toboggan, Salutos Amigos rallied from last under Irad Ortiz Jr., running down a loose-on-the-lead Dads Caps in deep stretch to win by 1 3/4 lengths. He ran six furlongs in 1:09.53 and earned a 108 Beyer Speed Figure. In the Gravesend, which he won by 2 1/2 lengths Dec. 26, Salutos Amigos ran six furlongs in 1:09.51 and earned a 109 Beyer.

“He’s just getting better and better and more consistent,” Jacobson said.