Tom Fool Handicap 2016 at Aqueduct Racetrack

Dave Bond | OTB Writer

OffTrackBetting.com - The Grade 3 Tom Fool Handicap takes place this Saturday, March 12 at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. Horses four years old and upward will take to Aqueduct's dirt track and dash six furlongs searching for the winner's portion of the $200,000 purse.

A field of 11 sprinters have been confirmed for the Tom Fool Handicap - race 8 on Aqueduct's Saturday card. Post time is 4:50 PM. Let's take a peek into the past performances of all 11 combatants for this Grade 3 stakes.

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2016 Tom Fool Handicap Race Preview

Salutos Amigos 2-1 - has won five of his last 11 starts (all stakes) for David Jacobson - the Mr. Prospector Stakes at Monmouth June 28, the 2015 Tom Fool Handicap last March, the Grade 3 Toboggan Stakes last February, the minor Gravesend Stakes in December, 2014 and the Grade 3 Fall Highweight Handicap November 27 of that year. He enters on the heels of consecutive runner-up finishes - the Grade 2 Palos Verdes Stakes last time out February 7 at Santa Anita and as favorite in the Grade 3 Midnight Lute Stakes January 2. Before that were consecutive fifths - the Grade 3 Fall Highweight Stakes at Aqueduct in November and the Breeders' Cup Sprint in October. He also had a decent runner-up finish in the Grade 1 Vosburgh Stakes September 26. Salutos Amigos has been trending upward and looks to regain the form he had at this time last year. Cornelio Velasquez will be in the irons of the morning line favorite from post 9.

Dads Cap 4-1 - last year's runner-up in this race (he was also second in the Tom Fool in 2014) has just three starts since - a seventh place finish last time out in the Grade 3 Toboggan Stakes followed a third place finish in the Grade 2 True North Stakes way back on June 5 followed and a terrific win over Green Gratto in the Grade 1 Carter Handicap here in April (a race he's won two consecutive years). He has just two wins in the last 21 months but has placed in five of his last six starts overall. Dads Cap will be out to avenge an ugly effort last time out when he leaves from post 5 with Jose Ortiz in the saddle of the morning line second choice.

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Stallwalkin' Dude 5-1 - David Jacobson trained gelding has 13 wins, four seconds and five third place finishes in 37 career starts but enters in OK form. Last time out was a fifth in the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector Stakes at Gulfstream Park December 19 after a win in a Starter Stakes December 5, a fourth in the minor Frank J. De Francis Memorial Stakes at Laurel Park November 14 and an eighth in the Breeders' Cup Sprint. Before that was a third in the Grade 1 Vosburgh Stakes at Belmont Park September 26, a win in the minor Tale of the Cat Stakes at Saratoga August 23, a second in the minor Teddy Drone Stakes August 2 and a third in the Grade 3 Belmont Sprint Championship in July. Stallwalkin Dude has placed in 11 of 14 starts ahead of this race and will be after his first ever graded stakes score from gate 8 Saturday. Manuel Franco will be in the reins.

Alex the Terror 8-1 - John Toscano trained colt has 18 career starts with five wins, two seconds and four third place finishes. He enters off an Allowance Optional Claiming score here February 25 after a sixth in his only graded stakes action to date - the Grade 3 Toboggan Stakes on this track January 30. Before that was a third place finish in the minor Gravesend Stakes here December 26 and two straight Allowance scores on this track early in the winter. He has placed in seven of his last eight starts overall ahead of this and hopes for his first ever stakes win. Gabriel Saez has been tabbed to ride from gate 4.

Always Sunshine 10-1 - has placed in seven of eight career starts for trainer Edward Attard - three wins, two seconds and two third place finishes. Last time out was a nice win in the minor Dave's Friend Stakes at Laurel Park February 26 which followed a Claiming score at Parx in December and a second in an Allowance in November. Always Sunshine races in graded stakes company for the first time Saturday and arrives in career best form. Frankie Pennington get the call from post 3.

Mewannarose 10-1 - Chris Englehart trained gelding has 21 career starts with four wins, five seconds and three third place finishes. Last time out was a third in an Allowance Optional Claiming here February 25 which followed a second in the Grade 3 Toboggan Stakes on this track January 30. He also finished second in the 2014 Grade 3 Fall Highweight Handicap on this track. Mewannarose has placed in just two of his last seven starts overall (those coming in his last two starts) and will be chasing his first stakes win from post 7 with Christopher DeCarlo guiding him.

Waco 12-1 - has 13 career starts for trainer James Bond with three wins, a second and two third place finishes. He had a two race win streak last year including an Allowance Optional Claiming score two starts back at Saratoga August 30 but had a difficult time in his first foray into stakes company - he finished ninth in the Grade 3 Ogden Phoenix Stakes at Keeneland in October. Waco hits the track for the first time in five months looking for his first stakes win. Eric Cancel will be in the reins from post 10.

Angry Moon 12-1 - Chris Englehart pupil makes his stakes debut Saturday having recorded six wins, a second and two third place finishes in 18 career starts. He has won three of his last five starts overall but has failed to place in the other two over that span. Last time out was an Allowance Optional Claiming score here February 28 after a fifth in a similar race January 16, a Claiming win on this track December 30, a tenth in an Allowance Optional Claiming December 2 and a Claiming score in October. He's been inconsistent so far but hopes to build on a nice win last time out. Kendrick Carmouche rides from gate 2.

Nubin Ridge 20-1 - has 44 career starts for trainer Chris Englehart with seven wins, seven seconds and seven third place finishes. He makes his graded stakes debut Saturday having placed in his last two starts - a runner-up finish last time out in an Allowance Optional Claiming here February 25 followed an Allowance Optional Claiming score also here January 16. He did fail to place in his previous two starts however. Nubin Ridge looks for his first stakes score and enters in OK form. John Bisono has the mount from post 6.

Loki's Vengeance 20-1 - Michael Hushion pupil has placed in 12 of 17 career starts - six wins, four seconds and two third place finishes. Last time out was a good win in the minor New York Stallion Series Stakes here November 29 after a sixth in the minor Hudson Handicap in October and an Allowance Optional Claiming score in September. Loki's Vengeance has been a tad inconsistent but off a win should be a confident entry Saturday. Aaron Gryder has been tabbed to ride from the outside post 11.

Spartiatis 50-1 - has just two wins, three seconds and four third place finishes in 21 career starts for trainer Leon Blusiewicz. He makes his stakes debut off an Allowance score in this track February 20, a fifth, a third and a fourth respectively in similar races on this track this past winter. He steps up in so-so form and will have Jacqueline Davis aboard from the rail.


2016 Tom Fool Handicap Entries & Odds

Race 8 on Aqueduct's Saturday card with a Post Time of 4:50 PM.

Entry Horse ML Odds Jockey Trainer
1 Spartiatis 50-1 Jacqueline Davis Leon Blusiewicz
2 Angry Moon 12-1 Kendrick Carmouche Chris Englehart
3 Always Sunshine 10-1 Frankie Pennington Edward Allard
4 Alex the Terror 8-1 Gabriel Saez John Toscano, Jr.
5 Dads Caps 4-1 Jose Ortiz Rudy Rodriguez
6 Nubin Ridge 20-1 John Bisono Chris Englehart
7 Mewannarose 10-1 Christopher DeCarlo Chris Englehart
8 Stallwalkin' Dude 5-1 Manuel Franco David Jacobson
9 Salutos Amigos 2-1 Cornelio Velasquez David Jacobson
10 Waco 12-1 Eric Cancel H. Bond
11 Loki's Vengeance 20-1 Aaron Gryder Michael Hushion