American Power Game Winner of Toboggan

OZONE PARK, NY – Trainer Rob Atras’ American Power proved to be a game winner over a hard-fighting Pete’s Play Call in Saturday’s $150,000 Toboggan Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct.

American Power broke from the far outside post 5 under Kendrick Carmouche at 7/2 odds and dueled with Pete’s Play Call through soft opening fractions of :24.08 and :48.11.

The two continued their battle off the far turn and through the stretch, but American Power edged ahead inside the final furlong before crossing a 1/2-length clear, completing the 7-furlong fast dirt sprint in 1:24.28.

“I had the best position looking at the whole screen,” Carmouche said. “I thought (the 6/5 favorite Share the Ride) would go a little bit with the other horse, but I had him in the position where he had to take back. I let the one horse go as easy as he can. When I got to the 3/8 pole, I had so much horse, I just made it a race home and make me or (the other jockey) win the race. That’s the way I looked at it and the horse ran good.”

Share the Ride took third over Drafted and Stan the Man to complete the order of finish.

American Power’s win was his third straight and first at the stakes level, improving his overall record to 29-10-6-2. The 6-year-old intact son of Power Broker, claimed for $40,000 last summer, has now bankrolled $499,359 in his career. Current ownership includes Sanford Goldfarb, Ira Goldfarb, and the Estate of Ira Davis. 

“He had been training well going in,” Atras said. “When Kendrick rode him last time, he broke sharp and it seemed like he really got his confidence back. Kendrick had a game plan going in and it worked out great. The outside post definitely helped.”

American Power returned $9.50 to win and $5.80 to place. Pete’s Play Call paid $4.70 to place. There was no show betting.