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Graded stakes action returns to Big A in Saturday's G3 Toboggan

by Brian Bohl

Shadwell Stables' Takaful will be looking to start his 4-year-old campaign on a strong note to set up a potential next stop against top-flight international competition as he leads a field of six in Saturday's 125th running of the Grade 3, $100,000 Toboggan at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Coming off a 10th place finish in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint on November 4 at Del Mar, Takaful will be returning from a nearly three-month rest in running in the Big A's first graded stakes of the new year.

Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said the Bernardini colt had no excuses for his last-place Breeders' Cup effort. Before that, Takaful posted triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures in three consecutive starts, including a win in the Grade 1 Vosburgh against older rivals on September 30 at Belmont Park.

"He's doing very well, so we're just drawing a line through the Breeders' Cup. He just didn't run that well," McLaughlin said. "We're just throwing it out and we're just looking forward to this race."

A solid effort in the Toboggan could set Takaful up for the Group 1, $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen on March 31 at Meydan Racecourse.

"It could be a springboard to Dubai, we'll see about that. He just needs to find a way to the winner's circle," McLaughlin said. "That will help us a lot with the decision."

In his 3-year-old campaign, Takaful ran third in the Grade 2 Remsen, contested at 1 1/8 miles, seventh in the Grade 3 Jerome at one mile and 70 yards and eighth in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth at 1 1/16 miles. McLaughlin then concentrated his efforts on winning sprints, a decision that paid dividends with a runner-up effort in the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens at the Toboggan distance of seven furlongs and a one-length score in the six-furlong Vosburgh.

"The key was just turning back to sprinting. We tried him long and tried to make the Derby trail," McLaughlin said. "That's when we stopped and regrouped and decided to go back to sprinting. That was the answer. I think he might be a little better going six [furlongs], but he was second in the Jerkens. If it wasn't for the weather, we would have probably preferred going six or six and a half, but seven should be no problem. He'll have to carry a high weight, though if he runs his race, he'll be very tough."

Takaful will break from post 2 carrying the co-highweight of 123 pounds with jockey Trevor McCarthy.

Green Gratto will look to defend his Toboggan title, which was one of two graded stakes victories at Aqueduct for the son of Here's Zealous in 2017, joining his Grade 1 Carter win by a neck over Unified on April 8.

Gaston Grant, who trains and is co-owner of Green Gratto along with his brother Anthony, will see the 8-year-old make his 62nd career start. He will be making his third straight appearance in the Toboggan, having run third in the 2016 edition.

Jockey Chris DeCarlo will break from the outside posts carrying 123 pounds.

Vulcan's Forge will return to graded stakes company after winning an optional claimer on December 30 at Aqueduct. Trainer Todd Pletcher dropped the son of Giant's Causeway down in class after a ninth-place effort in the Grade 3 Discovery capped his 2016 campaign, and Vulcan's Forge responded by going 1-1-1 in four starts against optional claimers.

Pletcher moved him up in class in the Grade 1 Cigar Mile Handicap on December 2, where he bobbled at the start and failed to rally in finishing seventh. He will get another opportunity in a stakes, breaking from post 3 with Eric Cancel carrying 116 pounds.

Life in Shambles, who ran fourth in last year's Toboggan, will be looking to win his first graded stakes in three appearances. Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, the 7-year-old drew post 5 with Manny Franco aboard carrying 114 pounds.

Rounding out the field is Summer Revolution, trained by Rudy Rodriguez, drawing the rail with Kendrick Carmouche carrying 114 pounds; and Great Stuff, ridden by Dylan Davis at 116 pounds, breaking from post 4 for trainer David Jacobson.