Well Fancied takes Toboggan

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Minutes before New York-bred Friends Lake pulled an upset in the $1 million Florida Derby, Well Fancied, among the top older New York-breds in training, did just what the Aqueduct crowd of 5,319 expected with his two-length win as the favorite in the $112,200 .

Gators N Bears finished second, a neck in front of Don Six in the 10-horse field. Black Silk, Peeping Tom, New York Hero, Unforgettable Max, Papua, Super Fuse, and Roaring Fever completed the order of finish in the seven-furlong race.

Well Fancied raced in second behind Don Six, who controlled the pace through fractions of 22.52 seconds and 45.17. Don Six, weary from his early efforts, tired in the final furlong while Well Fancied powered on home.

Well Fancied ($5) covered the distance in 1:22.06 over a fast track.

The Grade 3 Toboggan was Well Fancied's sixth win in his last seven starts. On Feb. 16, Well Fancied became a graded stakes winner in the Grade 2 General George Handicap at Laurel Park. Since July, Well Fancied, a 6-year-old son of Prosper Fager, has won five stakes.

"Everything went his way; he had something to stalk, which he loves," said Richard Dutrow Jr., who trains Well Fancied for Sanford Goldfarb and Stewart Hoffman. "I guess he's just better than these."

Dutrow indicated that he didn't want to run the gelding back in the Grade 1 Carter Handicap at Aqueduct on April 10 if he had to face Congaree, last year's winner. The $350,000 Carter is shaping up to be a terrific race, with Congaree, Ghostzapper, Badge of Silver, and Strong Hope all considered probable to run.

With his win in the Toboggan, Well Fancied has earnings of $826,426 and a record of 12-4-4 in 29 starts.

Broadway Handicap: 'Chic' victory

Sensibly Chic became a stakes winner in the $84,125 Broadway Handicap with her half-length win over the late-closing Taghkanic.

Sensibly Chic, under Jose Espinoza, set the pace with Reaching Up in the seven-furlong Broadway for New York-bred fillies and mares. As Reaching Up faded at the top of the stretch, Sensibly Chic continued on strongly and was able to hold off Taghkanic in the final yards.

Golden Damsel, the 3-2 favorite, finished last in the nine-horse field.

Sensibly Chic ($10.40) covered the distance in 1:24.31.

Sensibly Chic, a 4-year-old daughter of Distorted Humor, is owned by Lois S. Nervitt and trained by Bobby Ribaudo.