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Boys At Tosconova , a grade I winner at 2, appeared ready to rejoin the stakes ranks Jan. 27 with a game triumph over the filly Groupie Doll in the $51,000 allowance feature at Gulfstream Park (VIDEO).
In winning his third straight allowance race, Boys At Tosconova carried top weight of 123 pounds while defeating five opponents.
“He’s shown up the last three times and it’s time for us to start going in stakes again now,” said trainer Rick Dutrow Jr.
Boys At Tosconova is expected to return in the one-mile Gulfstream Park Handicap (gr. II) March 10.
The 4-year-old son of Officer prevailed by three-quarters of a length while completing the one-mile test in 1:35.87 on a fast track.
Boys at Tosconova, who captured the 2010 Hopeful Stakes (gr. I), raced along the rail, lapped on by pacesetting Groupie Doll on the backstretch and on the turn into the homestretch. But when a confident Javier Castellano asked him for his run at the top of the stretch, Boys At Tosconova responded to the vigorous hand ride to out-game the stakes-winning filly to the finish line.
Groupie Doll, who won an allowance race at Gulfstream Dec. 22, finished 4 ½ lengths clear of third-place finisher Flatter This.
