Happy Medium Brings Uncompromising Form Into Toboggan

Jay Em Ess Stable's talented Happy Medium  will make his stakes debut in the 129th running of the $150,000 Toboggan Stakes (G3), a seven-furlong sprint for older horses Jan. 29 at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The Toboggan kicks off the 2022 graded stakes lineup on the New York Racing Association circuit.

Trained by Michelle Nevin, Happy Medium seeks his fourth straight trip to the winner's circle having captured his trio of wins by a combined 21 1/4 lengths. The 4-year-old son of Runhappy   arrives off a triumph in a second-level allowance optional claimer Dec. 18 at Aqueduct, defeating next-out winner Wudda U Think Now  and stakes winner Chestertown . 

"He's a very nice horse and we just have taken the logical steps to go along with him. We've gone from his maiden, a-other-than, and two-other-than," Nevin said. "This step is the next logical one, so we're excited to see him run."

Happy Medium, bred in Kentucky by Colts Neck Stables, is out of the Coronado's Quest  mare Well Spring , who also produced Mendip—a multiple group stakes winner in Dubai. Happy Medium's second dam, Chaposa Springs , was a multiple grade 1-winning sprinter.

Manny Franco, aboard Happy Medium for all three of his victories, will return to the irons from post 2. Happy Medium will carry 120 pounds.

Returning to Aqueduct by the way of Parx Racing is Hopeful Treasure , who sprung an 18-1 upset in the six-furlong Fall Highweight (G3) last out Nov. 28. The 5-year-old bay son of Oxbow   provided trainer Michael Catalano Jr. with his first graded stakes victory, fending off a late challenge by graded stakes winner Green Light Go  to win by a head. He races for Tony Como's Just In Time Racing.

"We thought about running in a stakes at Parx at the end of the year and it just seemed like he wasn't back to where he was mentally," Catalano said. "He started to hit his stride in early January and has been just doing better and better each day since then. He's ready to run right now and hopefully he'll show up at one of these places and run really well again."

Hopeful Treasure carries Trevor McCarthy and a co-high 124 pounds in the race.

Michael Dubb's graded stakes winner Chateau  seeks a second straight stakes win at the Big A. The Flat Out   veteran captured the six-furlong Gravesend Stakes Dec. 19 last out by 3 1/2 lengths in his first stakes win since taking the Tom Fool Handicap (G3) in March. Chateau's trainer Rob Atras earned his first graded stakes win in last year's Toboggan with American Power . 

Chateau, who will carry 124 pounds, will emerge from post 4 under Kendrick Carmouche.

Drafted , Penguin Power , War Tocsin , and Repo Rocks  complete the field.

Penguin Power is cross-entered in the Fire Plug Stakes Saturday at Laurel Park.

Entries: Toboggan S. (G3)

Aqueduct Racetrack, Saturday, January 29, 2022, Race 8

• Grade III
• 7f
• Dirt
• $150,000
• 4 yo's & up
• 3:50 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Drafted (FL)	Dylan Davis	118	David P. Duggan	12/1
2	2Happy Medium (KY)	Manuel Franco	120	Michelle Nevin	3/5
3	3Hopeful Treasure (KY)	Trevor McCarthy	124	Michael L. Catalano, Jr.	6/1
4	4Chateau (KY)	Kendrick Carmouche	124	Rob Atras	7/2
5	5War Tocsin (KY)	Silvestre Gonzalez	118	Uriah St. Lewis	30/1
6	6Repo Rocks (VA)	Ruben Silvera	118	Juan C. Vazquez	10/1
7	7Penguin Power (WV)	Arnaldo Bocachica	118	Jeff C. Runco	12/1