Trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. has mapped out a tentative schedule for Kentucky Derby (G1)
prospects BOYS AT TOSCONOVA (Officer) and MOUNTAIN TOWN (Cape Town), who are
both slated to race at Gulfstream Park this winter. The 51-year-old
conditioner readied Big Brown at the South Florida oval in 2008, winning a pair
of starts, including a sensational five-length score in the Florida Derby (G1),
before saddling the eventual champion to victories in the Kentucky Derby and
Preakness (G1).
Hopeful S. (G1) winner and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) runner-up Boys at
Tosconova is the star of the stable presently.
“We’re looking at the one-turn race at the end of January for him,” Dutrow
said, referring to the one-mile Holy Bull S. (G3) on January 30. “Keeping him
here for the Florida Derby (on April 3) is something I think we would want to
do.”
Boys at Tosconova recorded a fast-finishing second in his career debut, the
April 30 Kentucky Juvenile (G3), before being privately sold and transferred to
Dutrow. He graduated in style next time out, sailing to a 12-length maiden
special weight victory at Belmont Park on July 2, and trained up to the
September 6 Hopeful at Saratoga. The nearly black colt returned from the
two-month freshening with a powerful performance, winning the seven-furlong
event in hand by 1 3/4 lengths, and then tried two turns in the Breeders’ Cup.
Boys at Tosconova made a run at Uncle Mo (Indian Charlie) on the far turn of
the Juvenile before settling for runner-up honors, 4 1/4 lengths back of the
winner, and he was six lengths clear of the third-placer. Boys at Tosconova
has earned triple-digit BRIS Speed ratings in each of his last three starts.
Mountain Town took a giant leap in class after winning his career bow at
Saratoga and finished an encouraging second behind Uncle Mo in the Champagne S.
(G1). The lightly-raced colt wrapped up his juvenile campaign with a third in
the November 27 Remsen S. (G2).
“Mountain Town will most likely go to the (February 26) Fountain of Youth
(G2),” Dutrow said. “Both he and Boys At Tosconova are doing well at this
point.”