Sassicaia Rallies to Victory in Toboggan

In the second stakes start of his career and first since 2014, Sassicaia courageously split horses in deep stretch to register a neck victory in the $150,000 Toboggan Stakes (gr. III) Jan. 30 at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Past the sixteenth pole Sassiacaia and jockey John Bisono completed their rally from eighth early by punching between even-money favorite Green Gratto and longshot Mewannarose to complete the six furlongs in 1:10.56.

"We knew there was going to be some pace in the beginning so I just let him get himself together. By the time we hit the half-mile, he started picking it up on his own, which was good," Bisono said. "We had a little traffic there but we got clear. I knew he was looking to kick in and once he got a little clear, I knew I had a shot to get him to the wire. He didn't hesitate too much to go [between horses]."

The victory gave trainer Rudy Rodriguez his third win of the day on the Aqueduct card. Rodriguez also sent out two-time grade I winner Dads Caps in the Toboggan but he faded to seventh after contending early at 5-2 odds.

There was an incident in the turn where Captain Serious stumbled and jockey Aaron Gryder was unseated near the rail. Captain Serious was able to walk off the track. Gryder was transported to a local hospital for evaluation for pain in his right leg and left foot and a laceration to his lower lip.

Robert LaPenta's Sassicaia was making only the second stakes start of his career and first since finishing fourth in the Federico Tesio Stakes in April 2014 at Laurel Park. He closed out last season with a one-length victory in an allowance-optional claiming race at Aqueduct Dec. 26. The 5-year-old improved his career mark Saturday to 4-5-2 from 15 career starts.

The Toboggan originally was scheduled for Jan. 18 but winter weather forced it to be postponed to Saturday.

"With the week off I didn't want to jinx myself supplementing him into this race but the horse was training so well," Rodriguez said. "I have to give all the credit to John [Panagot], the managing partner, and Mr. LaPenta. He said, 'Let's take a chance and if we don't like where we draw we'll scratch him.' But the horse gave us all the indication that he wanted to run. He loves the inner track, he's run his best races on it and he was ready to fire and he showed it today."

Sassicaia was the sale topper at the 2013 Fasig-Tipton Florida sale where Steven Young went to $1.6 million for LaPenta to land the son of Bernardini  , who was consigned by Hartley/De Renzo Thoroughbreds, agent. Bred in Kentucky by Masaichiro Abe, Sassicaia is the first starter for the Forestry mare Hishi Aspen, who won races in Japan.

Sassicaia returned $14.60 to win, $7 to place, and $3.90 to show while Wewannarose paid $27.40 to place and $10.40 to show. Favorite Green Gratto returned $2.50 to show.