Toscano saddles first winner of the Spa meet
By David M. Johnson and Jeff Scott SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » An up-and-comer teamed with a wily veteran to get Asian’s Way to victory in Race 3 Saturday at Saratoga Race Course.
For John Toscano Jr., a 73-year-old who began his training career in 1979, it was his first trip to the Spa winner’s circle in 2017.
“This is a very tough meet,” Toscano said.
The savvy veteran saw his horses finish in the money three times in 18 starts before getting over the hump with Asian’s Way.
It was the fifth winner of the meeting for 23-year-old jockey Dylan Davis, who had the ride.
“Dyaln is an up-andcoming rider. He doesn’t have the name the other guys have, so to speak, so every horse has a price on it,” Toscano said. “The kid does a good job and gets it done. That’s what counts.”
The win was a thrilling one for Asian’s Way backers who got nearly 10-1 odds.
Wildcat Belle was hustled to the front out of the gate by jockey Jose Ortiz and set fractions of 22.34 and 45.52 with Murrell’s Belle in hot pursuit.
Meanwhile Asian’s Way sat off the pace until being asked at the 5/16ths mark. The 4-year-old Trappe Shot filly out of Dblsecretprobation (by Proud Citizen) made a four-wide move into the stretch and continued to overtake opponents from the outside. She caught leader Murrell’s Belle in the final sixteenth before nosing ahead at the wire. Murrell’s Belle was second and Pico Chick got up for third.
Asian’s Way completed the six furlongs on a fast main track in 1:11.38. She paid $21.60 to win.
Race 5
In Saturday’s fifth-race maiden special weight, Avery Island was selected as the narrow 3-1 post-time favorite over Variant Perception. Allured and Super Sermon were also given support at 4-1 and 6-1, respectively. But since none of these horses had ever run in an actual race, who really knew? Given little chance were Pure Shot (231), Tweeter in Chief (25-1) and Bow Ready (29-1), who had finished last of nine in his lone start.
In addition to being dissed at 23-1, Pure Shot also had to start from the No. 10 post.
Gunned from the gate by Ricardo Santana Jr, the son of Fast Bullet easily made the front. Kept company early by Bow Ready, Pure Shot soon opened up a lead that he extended in the stretch, passing the eighth pole three lengths in front. Allured and Super Sermon made up ground late, but Pure Shot beat the former to the wire by 2¼ lengths. The winner covered six furlongs in 1:11 flat.
The Florida-bred colt, who is out of a mare by the nearly forgotten Darn That Alarm, races for Scott Dilworth and Norma McKathan. Steven Asmussen trains. Pure Shot paid $48.00 on a $2 win wager.
Race 2
Honorable Treasure faded late in his career debut here on the second day of the meet, finishing fifth in an 8½-furlong maiden special weight on turf. Four weeks later, in Saturday’s second race, the son of To Honor and Serve was entered in another MSW at the same distance.
When the race was taken off the turf and shortened up to seven furlongs on the main track, Honorable Treasure found the conditions much more to his liking. Drafting off Ezmosh for seven furlongs, the Ken McPeek trainee went by that one wheeling into the stretch, then drew off decisively through the lane to triumph by 6¼ widening lengths. The running time was a swift 1:22.90. Ezmosh held second by 11¼ lengths in the strungout field.
Robby Albarado rode the former maiden for a bunch of folks: Harold Lerner LLC, AWC Stables, Scott Akman and Nehoc Stables.
Van Dyke rides at Spa
California invader It Tiz Well shipped in for Saturday’s Grade 1 Alabama and so did Drayden Van Dyke, the talented young jockey who’s been her regular rider.
Van Dyke also picked up mounts in Race 4 and Race 10 at the Spa.
“It’s good to travel to new scenery but in my opinion, if I could choose to fly or travel the right way wouldn’t be with red-eye,” Van Dyke said after a ride on Chiropractor in Race 4. “Luckily I could get in the jocks room and take a nap before my races so I’m all good.”
Van Dyke had a spill on Jan. 26 that broke his forearm and kept him out of the races until June 16.
Since his recovery, he’s been seventh in the jockey standings at Del Mar with 10 winning rides for the current meeting.
Van Dyke, who won the Eclipse award for champion apprentice jockey in 2014, appreciates the atmosphere at the Spa.
“It seems like the fan base here is better,” Van Dyke said. “Everyone knows who you are. It’s a great place to race and I’m happy to be here.”
Race 1
Youth prevailed in Saturday’s opener as Southside Warrior, a 4-year-old colt won a $62,000 claiming race against seven older opponents between the ages of 5-8 years-old.
River Date, a 5-year-old Pioneeer of the Nile gelding, set the pace for the 1 1/16-mile race on the Mellon turf course and held the lead at the start of the final turn.
However, Southside Warrior — who sat second for most of the race — caught River Date at the eighth pole then held off late bids from runner-up Mills and third place King of New York to win by a head. His record improved to 4-3-1 from 18 starts. All four wins came in his 4-yearold campaign.
The final time was 1:49.72. Javier Castellano had the ride and Mark Casse trained until Southside Warrior was claimed by R. Larry Johnson. His new trainer will be Michael Trombetta. Mills and River Date were also claimed for $40,000.