Well Fancied Coasts to Toboggan Triumph

(from Aqueduct report)
Sanford Goldfarb and Stewart Hoffman's Well Fancied recorded his sixth win in his last eight starts Saturday, stalking stubborn pacesetter Don Six from just off the pace, finally getting to the lead to win the $112,200 Toboggan Handicap (gr. III) by two lengths at Aqueduct.

The race for 3-year-olds and up at seven furlongs is the first graded stakes race of Aqueduct's Spring Meet.

Although the 6-year-old Well Fancied won the General George on the lead at Laurel last time out, trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. insisted that the Prosper Fager gelding was better when he had a target ahead of him. He got that when Don Six, racing without blinkers for the first time in his last eight starts, popped out of post 2 to set a pace of :22 2/5; :45; and 1:09 2/5. Well Fancied had him in his sights throughout the race, but had all he could do to finally wrest the lead from the Don Six.

He came home a winner under jockey Eibar Coa in 1:22. Gators N Bears got up to neck Don Six for the place, with Black Silk, Peeping Tom, New York Hero, Unforgettable Max, Papua, Super Fuse and Roaring Fever in tow.

The victory was Well Fancied's 12th in 29 career starts, and the $67,320 winner's purse boosted his lifetime earnings to $826,426. The New York-bred also earned a $10,000 bonus for his owners, a $13,464 bonus for his breeder, the estate of the late Seymour Cohn, and a stallion award of $4,712 from the New York Thoroughbred Breeding & Racing Program.

"Everything went his way," Dutrow said. "He had a clean break. He had something to stalk, which he loves. I guess he's just better than these. At the top of the stretch, I thought the race was over. I was watching the other guys ride their horses, and I knew we could catch the horse in front. We're going to go up and drink some champagne."

The winner returned $5, $3.30 and $3.10 as the favorite. Gators N Bears paid $8.40 and $4.90 and Don Six showed at $6.20.

Sensibly Chic scored a front-running victory in the co-featured $84,125 Broadway Handicap for New York-bred fillies and mares. Ridden by Jose Espinoza, Sensibly Chic was timed for seven furlongs in 1:24 1/5, a half length ahead of Taghkanic.

Sensibly Chic earned $50,475 for Lois Nervitt and returned $10.40, $5.70 and $3.80. Taghkanic placed at $9 and $6.30 and Beautiful America paid $5.70 for third.

(Chart, Equibase)