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Boys at Tosconova draws rave reviews for 12-length maiden win

Boys at Tosconova broke his maiden in spectacular fashion at Belmont on Friday (Adam Coglianese/NYRA Photos)) With an overwhelming maiden win Friday at Belmont Park, BOYS AT TOSCONOVA (Officer) established himself as an early favorite for the juvenile stakes at Saratoga Race Course. The Richard Dutrow-trained colt coasted to a 12-length decision in the five-furlong special weight event, registering a whopping 111 BRIS Speed rating after completing five furlongs in :56 1/5. Purchased for $35,000 at the 2009 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, his previous connections thought so much of the Kentucky-bred that they debuted him in the Kentucky Juvenile S. (G3) at Churchill Downs on April 30. He backed up that confidence with a fast-finishing second, beaten only 1 1/2 lengths. Boys at Tosconova's debut got the attention of Mace Siegel from Jay Em Ess Stable, who put in a call to Dutrow.

"Mr. Siegel called me, and said 'Rick, the horse is at Monmouth. Go check him out. If you like him, we'll buy him,'" Dutrow said. "I went and checked him out with a couple of my good friends and as soon as I saw him, I called back and said 'We've got to buy him.'"

Dutrow's keen eye was rewarded on Friday when Boys At Tosconova, sent off as the 2-5 favorite, dismantled an overmatched group of six debuters, missing the Belmont track record for five furlongs by a mere half-second after completing the final eighth of a mile in :11 4/5.

Leading jockey Ramon Dominguez was effusive in his praise of the winner, whom he rode for the first time.

"So much class, so much ability, he was outstanding," Dominguez said. "The sky is the limit."

Dutrow echoed those sentiments, saying that he was "blown away" by his horse's performance. He mentioned two Saratoga races, the Saratoga Special (G2) on August 16, and the Hopeful (G1) on September 6, as possible goals, adding that he will let the horse tell him when he's ready to race again.

"I'll give him plenty of time, the big races are next year and we're going to try to target them, so we'll try to take as good care of him as we can and give him plenty of time between his races," Dutrow said. "I'm not the kind of guy who wants to get in a hurry with a good one."

By 2001 Champagne (G1) winner Officer, who currently stands at Taylor Made Stallions in Kentucky, Boys at Tosconova has some pedigree to go with his speed. His dam, Little Bonnet (Coronado's Quest), finished third in the 2003 Sands Point S. at nine furlongs over the Belmont main track. His second dam, Valid Bonnet (Valid Appeal), was a multiple Grade 3 winner at two turns and finished second in the 1997 Fantasy (G2).

Boys at Tosconova also became the second two-year-old featured on the New York Watch list, located online at http://www.nyra.com/nywatch, the series that profiles up-and-comers that have recently broken their maiden in races at Aqueduct, Belmont Park and Saratoga.

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