Sassicaia made the successful leap into Graded Stakes company when he captured the G3 Toboggan by a determined neck at Aqueduct Race Course.
Settled at the rear of the field early, the son of Bernardini closed strongly in the stretch and split rivals near the wire to earn his second straight win.
Bred in Kentucky by Abe Masaichiro, Sassicaia is out of the winning Forestry mare, Hishi Aspen, and hails from the female family of champions/Group 1 winners Timber Country, Bianconi, Fort Wood, Northern Aspen, and Hamas.
Bernardini had an incredible year in 2015 with four US G1 winners including G1 Champagne victor Greenpointcrusader and G1 Spinaway heroine Rachel’s Valentina. Bernardini is also the sire of back-to-back G1 Travers winners Stay Thirsty and Alpha, as well as multiple G1 winner To Honor and Serve.
He will stand the 2016 breeding season at Jonabell Farm for a fee of $100,000, stands and nurses.
