Toxic Gray rounding into form as racing resumes
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OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The temperature was forecasted to inch above the freezing mark this week, which, in this part of the country, constitutes a heat wave.
At the very least, it should allow racing to return at Aqueduct this week. The track had canceled the equivalent of six racing programs due to extreme cold since it last operated on Jan. 23. There is an eight-race program scheduled for Wednesday (first post 1:10 p.m.), followed by 10 races on Thursday (12:10 p.m.) and 11 on Friday (11:45 a.m.). A 10-race card has been drawn for Saturday – just don’t look at the forecast for that day.
Many of the races being run the first three days this week are brought back from previously canceled cards. Wednesday’s fourth, a second-level allowance/optional $75,000 claimer going seven furlongs, was in the condition book for Sunday but did not draw enough entries to fill.
There are seven entered for Wednesday, including Toxic Gray, who is looking to win his first race since Nov. 16, 2024. He has three seconds from six starts since that day, including a head loss to Twenty Four Mamba on April 5. That was his most recent try at seven furlongs.
After a break, Toxic Gray has returned with two runs, a shake-the-rust-off fourth in this condition Dec. 11 followed by a better-looking second to One Nine Hundred on Jan. 9.
“His first race, he needed the race, he hadn’t run in a long time.” trainer Michael Miceil said. “The other day was more like his old self. He ran a darn good race, he hooked a buzz saw. I’m hoping if he runs that last race back – and he’s pointing in that direction – that’s good spot for him.”
Toxic Gray, who will be ridden from post 4 by Manny Franco, figures to be relatively close to the pace.
Vettriano, who finished second in the race that Toxic Gray was fourth, and fourth in the race that Toxic Gray was second, will likely try to use his speed to wire this field. While his last win came at seven furlongs, last September, he does seem a little better going six or 6 1/2 furlongs.
Kendrick Carmouche rides Vettriano for Linda Rice from post 7.
This race features the first start in 21 months for Brigadier General. Claimed for $80,000 on Kentucky Oaks Day at Churchill by Race Point Stables, the gelding was turned over to David Duggan in late spring of that year.
Duggan said Brigadier General had “a litany of issues” when he first got him and after having to start and stop a time or two, Brigadier General has a lengthy work tab coming into this race. Duggan doesn’t view Brigadier General as a sprinter, adding “I need someplace to start.”
Brigadier General does have the speed to potentially impede Vettriano.
The co-feature on Wednesday’s card is a second-level allowance/optional $75,000 claiming heat at 1 1/8 miles that is being brought back from the Jan. 28 card. Seven of the nine original entrants went back in, including Donegal Surges, who crossed the line first in this condition Dec. 27 but was disqualified and placed second for interfering with his Todd Pletcher-trained stablemate Be You.
In this spot, Pletcher also sends out Classicist, who is 2 for 2 at 1 1/8 miles and hasn’t lost since making the switch to two turns, which is why Pletcher sent the horse up to New York after beginning his winter training regimen in South Florida.
Rice also has two in this field in Yo Daddy, unraced since June, and Dreamlike, a horse coming off a first-level win at this distance Dec. 26.
Doc Sullivan enters Toboggan
The fields for the four stakes originally scheduled for Jan. 31 were redrawn for Friday’s card and some included alterations.
Doc Sullivan, a winner of two New York-bred stakes in his last two outings, is a new name in the $150,000 Toboggan Stakes for male sprinters at seven furlongs. Doc Sullivan drew the rail in a field that saw the six original entrants – including Maximus Meridius enter back. Maximus Meridius went from the rail to post 7 on Friday.
Just Katherine and Ourdaydreaminggirl, who were both entered in the Ladies, are now entered in the seven-furlong $135,000 Interborough, which had been postponed from the Jan. 24 card that was canceled. Lucille Ball heads a six-horse Interborough field, while Weigh the Risks heads a seven-horse field for the $150,000 Ladies at 1 1/8 miles.
The $200,000 Withers Stakes, originally drawn with eight, went with seven for Friday. The only one not to enter back was Project Ace, who finished a late-running third in last Saturday’s Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream. The Chad Brown-trained Ottinho and Schoolyardsuperman remain the two likely choices in a race that offers the winner 20 qualifying points to the May 2 Kentucky Derby.
Our Golden Gator, a debut winner Jan. 14 at Parx Racing, is new to the seven-horse field for the $135,000 Ruthless, which did lose Haunting Echoes.
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