Sinister G carefully spotted in Topsider

EAST BOSTON, Mass. - It's the height of the summer racing season at Saratoga, but trainer John Toscano is dreaming of Aqueduct's inner-track meet as he sends graded stakes winner Sinister G to Saturday's $50,000 Topsider Breeders' Cup at Suffolk Downs, hoping to beat the heat and gear up the barn's star for bigger money this winter.

"We've been trying to spot him all over the place nationally trying to pick up as many easy spots as we can," said Toscano, who sent Sinister G to the Lane's End Stakes at Turfway in 2004 and pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the history of that Kentucky Derby prep.

"He's been good to us doing it this way. I'm just trying to keep him fresh for the stakes on the inner track at Aqueduct this winter."

The Lane's End victory put the whole Toscano family on the Triple Crown trail, but one race later Sinister G was quickly dispatched in the Wood Memorial, finishing 28 lengths behind Tapit. It was the start of a five-race losing streak that included a stint on the West Coast with trainer Jeff Mullins. Sinister G was beaten a total of 95 lengths during the skid before getting a break this winter.

Since coming back to Toscano Sinister G has rebounded. He has consistently showed speed and has won three times, including the Wadsworth Memorial at Finger Lakes. He lost an optional claimer at Saratoga in his last start, finishing behind fellow Topsider rival Trapped Again and Grade 1 veteran Evening Attire, but that effort is another reason Toscano is looking forward to the winter.

"I have to chalk up his last race completely to the heat," said Toscano. "It was completely unbearable and they made him run some fast fractions. He's inside Trapped Again this time and it should be a lot cooler this time, I hope."

Trapped Again not only drew outside Sinister G, he's outside all his opponents in the 11-hole - a tough task in the mile and 70-yard contest. He lost that optional claimer by a nose to Go Now after running second in the Carpenter Memorial at Delaware for former New England-based trainer Mike Gorham.

Former New England champion Milky Way Guy, who in recent years has accomplished more on the turf course, leads the local contingent. He exits a fourth-placed finish in a high-priced claimer at Saratoga.

An intriguing entrant is 3-year-old Ed Miracle, or as his handlers and outriders know him, Dennis the Menace.

"He looks just like the character with the long bangs," said trainer Paul Thornton. "He's a little aggressive thing and he likes to cause trouble."

Thornton is on the comeback trail after missing a few seasons battling cancer. This is his first big horse since training the 1999 national leader in wins, Bins Coyote.

"There's not much to him, but he's handy and wants to go from the get-go," Thornton said. "He's proven he can beat older horses here and good 3-year-olds out of town. This will be a good gauge on his future."

Pam Angevine will saddle three horses in the Topsider. Top-class New Englander Dhaffir and former Californian Long Gone Con make up an entry, while recent allowance winner Sumerset is a separate betting interest.