Dads Caps Tops Five Entered in Gravesend

Dads Caps, winless in five starts since scoring the biggest race of his career in the Carter Handicap (gr. I) last spring, has been installed the 124-pound co-highweight for the Gravesend Handicap at Aqueduct Racetrack Dec. 26.

The New York-bred son of Discreet Cat   trained by Rudy Rodriguez for owner-breeder Vincent Scuderi comes into the six-furlong event off a troubled fourth-place finish, 3 1/2 lengths behind winner Zee Bros, as the 9-5 favorite  in the Nov. 15 Frank J. DeFrancis Dash at Laurel Park. Previous to the DeFrancis, Dads Caps had consecutive second-place finishes in the Troy Stakes and Vosburgh Invitational Stakes (gr. I).

The April 5 Carter at Aqueduct was the lone stakes triumph for the colt who has bankroll $658,650 en route to compiling a record of 4-5-2 14 starts. His placings have included second-place finishes in the Tom Fool Handicap and Toboggan Stakes, both grade III.

Also weighted at 124 pounds for the Gravesend is Salutos Amigos, a gelded son of Salute the Sarge who has won six of 24 starts for Southern Equine Stable and his trainer, David Jacobson. A late runner who is coming off a game victory in the Fall Highweight Handicap (gr. III) on a sloppy track while carrying 133 pounds, Salutos Amigos won the Bold Ruler Handicap in October.

Also coming out of the Fall Highweight are Mewannarose, the runner-up at 20-1 odds, and Crafty Dreamer, who finished fourth in the seven-horse field. Green Gratto, a New Jersey-bred colt trained by David J. Smith, completes the field, breaking from the inside post.