Skyler's Scramjet Favored in Aqueduct's Tom Fool

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 03/08/2019 - 03:25
Link: 
Skyler's Scramjet Favored in Aqueduct's Tom Fool
Image: 
Description: 

Photo: Coglianese Photos
Skyler's Scramjet wins the 2018 Tom Fool Handicap at Aqueduct

SJB Stable and Marcello Micozzi's Skyler's Scramjet returns to the scene of his lone graded stakes win to defend his title in the $200,000 Tom Fool Handicap (G3) March 9 at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The six-furlong Tom Fool for 4-year-olds and up, one of four stakes races on Saturday's card, is well within the wheelhouse of the 5-year-old Creative Cause  gelding, who has not won beyond 6 1/2 furlongs. Skyler's Scramjet most recently was runner-up in the seven-furlong Toboggan Stakes (G3) Jan 19 at Aqueduct. Four of his five wins have come at the New York track.

Trainer Michelle Nevin said she is looking for Skyler's Scramjet to rebound in the Tom Fool.

"He's been training very well coming out of the Toboggan," Nevin said. "Although he went to the lead in that race, I don't think he necessarily has to be up front. He's also been effective coming from off the pace so we'll take a look at the field and where we draw before coming up with a game plan. We certainly know he likes the track and the distance, so we're looking forward to Saturday."

Last year's runner-up in the Tom Fool will also contest this year's edition. Trained by Michael Maker for Three Diamonds Farm, Do Share has only had three races since the 2018 Tom Fool after which he finished off the board in the grade 1 Carter Handicap.

After eight months off, the Candy Ride  gelding returned to racing with a second-place effort in a Dec. 23 allowance optional-claiming race and he most recently finished fourth in his Feb. 16 season debut in the General George Stakes (G3) going seven furlongs. Both of those races were at Laurel Park.

All In the Family Racing's Bavaro is a bit of an anomaly as he has won three straight, jumping from the claiming level in December and January to take the Feb. 18 Hollie Hughes Stakes most recently. The son of Freud has nine wins from 20 starts, but has shown a bit of inconsistency in his career. The Tom Fool will be his graded stakes debut.

Also on the Gotham Stakes (G3) undercard, the $150,000 Stymie Stakes features the return of Vino Rosso, who has not made a start since finishing fifth in the Aug. 25 Runhappy Travers Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1). 

The 4-year-old son of Curlin  has been breezing weekly with Todd Pletcher's string at Palm Beach Downs. His most recent timed work was five furlongs in 1:00.17 March 2. 

Last year Vino Rosso ran exclusively in graded stakes, including two legs of the Triple Crown after winning the Wood Memorial Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) at Aqueduct.

The Stymie also marks the return of Curlin's Honor, who closed out 2018 with a runner-up finish in the Ontario Derby (G3) at Woodbine for trainer Mark Casse. The morning-line favorite in the one-mile contest is New Jersey-bred Sunny Ridge, who most recently finished second in the Jazil Stakes at Aqueduct. Title Ready, the fifth-place finisher from the Jan. 26 Jazil, is also slated for the Stymie.


Entries: Tom Fool H. (G3)

Aqueduct Racetrack, Saturday, March 09, 2019, Race 8

  • Grade III
  • 6f
  • Dirt
  • $200,000
  • 4 yo's & up
  • 4:06 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1Life in Shambles (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Manuel Franco 120 Jason Servis 6/1
2 2Do Share (KY) Reylu Gutierrez 119 Michael J. Maker 8/1
3 3Skyler's Scramjet (KY) Dylan Davis 122 Michelle Nevin 8/5
4 4Syndergaard (NY) John R. Velazquez 115 John P. Terranova II 3/1
5 5Bavaro (NY) Junior Alvarado 116 Linda Rice 4/1
6 6Bon Raison (KY) Eric Cancel 115 Carlos F. Martin 15/1
7 7Fully Vested (KY) Jose Lezcano 115 Thomas Albertrani 8/1


Entries: Stymie S.

Aqueduct Racetrack, Saturday, March 09, 2019, Race 9

  • STK
  • 1m
  • Dirt
  • $150,000
  • 4 yo's & up
  • 4:37 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1Curlin's Honor (FL) Junior Alvarado 122 Mark E. Casse 15/1
2 2Sunny Ridge (NJ) Manuel Franco 122 Jason Servis 8/5
3 3California Night (KY) Kendrick Carmouche 118 Michael J. Maker 15/1
4 4Stan the Man (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Dylan Davis 120 John P. Terranova II 5/2
5 5Title Ready (KY) Jose Lezcano 118 Steven M. Asmussen 6/1
6 6Hero's Welcome (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Harry Hernandez 118 Gary C. Contessa 20/1
7 7Shivermetimbers (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Javier Castellano 118 Jerry Hollendorfer 12/1
8 8Vino Rosso (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate John R. Velazquez 122 Todd A. Pletcher 7/2