Boys at Tosconova holds off Where’s Sterling

Boys at Tosconova was softened up by a pace battle, but not enough to help Where’s Sterling catch him (Adam Coglianese Photography) Grade 1 winner Boys at Tosconova put away his early pace rivals and sailed clear in Friday’s 3RD race at Gulfstream Park, but the 3-5 shot gave his backers slight pause when growing weary in deep stretch. As even-money second choice Where’s Sterling came from the clouds to pose a late threat, Boys at Tosconova kept pulling out enough to maintain a one-length margin at the wire. The Rick Dutrow sophomore, who captured last year’s Grade 1 Hopeful and finished second to Uncle Mo in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, was making the third start of his comeback from ankle problems. Third to Tapizar and Uptowncharlybrown in his belated reappearance at Belmont on October 8, he got back on the winning track with a comfortable 2 1/2-length score at Aqueduct on November 11. Boys at Tosconova stayed in allowance/optional claiming company Friday, but hooked a graded-caliber opponent in Where’s Sterling. He was also stepping up in trip to a one-turn mile after sprinting in his first two races off the layoff.

With the scratch of the rail-drawn Hollinger, Boys at Tosconova moved one
spot to the inside and ended up in post 1. He broke sharply for Ramon Dominguez
and led in the opening strides. Then he was accosted by Ribo Bobo and Nacho
Friend, the only two entrants available for the $80,000 tag, who ganged up to
make life harder on the odds-on favorite.

Ribo Bobo had his head in front through an opening quarter in :23 4/5, and
Nacho Friend was a similar margin ahead of Boys at Tosconova. The trio didn’t
race in tandem for long. Ribo Bobo was the first to throw in the towel, and Boys
at Tosconova easily overtook Nacho Friend when reaching the half-mile mark in
:45 4/5. Meanwhile, Where’s Sterling was living up to his name, lagging in last
by a double-digit margin behind the leader.

Boys at Tosconova pulled away rounding the far turn. Enjoying a 2 1/2-length
advantage through six furlongs in 1:10, he widened it to four lengths in
midstretch. By that point, Where’s Sterling had already commenced his sustained
move. His momentum provided some dramatic interest to a race that had looked
over, for he steadily closed the gap.

Yet Boys at Tosconova responded to Dominguez’s call and remained in control.
He took 1:35 3/5 to negotiate the fast-track mile, furnishing mutuels of $3.40,
$2.20 and $2.10.

Where’s Sterling checked in 3 1/4 lengths clear of Nacho Friend. Another 17
1/4 lengths adrift came Trust the Deputy, followed by Ribo Bobo.

Now presumably set for a return to graded stakes action, Boys at Tosconova
sports a 7-4-2-1 mark and $628,360 in earnings. The son of Officer races for Jay
Em Ess Stable in partnership with Hot Racing Stable, R. Hale Jr., T. Cady and D.
Kanakaris.