tom fool | Horse Racing Free Tips

Chateau Shortens Up To Headline Saturday’s Runhappy Stakes

Michael Dubb's speedster Chateau turns back to a more favorable distance in Saturday's Grade 3, $150,000 Runhappy, a six-furlong sprint for 4-year-olds and up at Belmont Park.

Saturday's card features five graded stakes, led by the Grade 1, $700,000 Man o' War at 1 3/8-miles on the turf for 4-year-olds and upward and is bolstered by the Grade 3, $200,000 Peter Pan, the local prep for the Belmont Stakes; the Grade 3, $150,000 Beaugay for older fillies and mares at 1 1/16-miles on turf; and the Grade 3, $150,000 Vagrancy at 6 1/2-furlongs on the main track for filly and mare sprinters 4-years-old and up.

Trained by Rob Atras, the 6-year-old Chateau rose to prominence with a solid winter stretch at Aqueduct Racetrack where he posted a record of 2-1-1 from five starts between November and April. His 3 1/2-length score in the Grade 3 Tom Fool Handicap highlighted that run.

With regular pilot Kendrick Carmouche up, Chateau led gate-to-wire in the six-furlong Tom Fool on March 6 to best Wendell Fong. The effort garnered a career-best 98 Beyer Speed Figure.

“Kendrick knowing how to ride him really helps,” said Atras. “I've always liked the horse and thought there was ability there. For some reason, we just weren't getting it out of him. I'm glad it finally clicked this winter.”

The Flat Out gelding, who has yet to win past 6 1/2-furlongs, tried to stretch his speed last out in the seven-furlong Grade 1 Carter Handicap on April 3 at the Big A, but faltered to fourth in a race won by Mischevious Alex in a romp.

“He ran one of the best six furlong races of his life last time, unfortunately the race was seven furlongs,” said Atras, with a laugh.

Atras said Carmouche has a solid understanding of how best to ride Chateau. The Big A fall meet-leading rider has guided Chateau through four of his last five starts, including both wins.

“I think he got his confidence back with Kendrick,” said Atras. “Kendrick rode him the one time and liked him and got along with him. He wasn't able to ride him the next time but he did the time following and he won and then he won again.”

Atras said Chateau now has to demonstrate his improved form will carry to Belmont, where the gelding has a record of two thirds from three starts.

“His top races have always been at Aqueduct, so he still has to prove he can run those big numbers against top horses at Belmont,” said Atras. “Hopefully, he puts in a top effort and shows that he can do it.”

Chateau will exit post 3 with Carmouche in the irons.

Mr. Amore Stable homebred Firenze Fire, trained by Kelly Breen, will make his first start since finishing second in the seven-furlong Grade 3 Mr. Prospector at Gulfstream Park in December.

The 6-year-old Florida-bred son of Poseidon's Warrior boasts a record of 31-12-4-3 with purse earnings in excess of $2.2 million. Last season, Firenze Fire won a trio of graded events, including the Grade 3 General George at Laurel Park along with the Grade 2 True North and Grade 2 Vosburgh at Belmont.

Firenze Fire won the 2019 edition of the Runhappy when it was an ungraded event. Irad Ortiz, Jr. retains the mount from post 4.

Misty Hollow Farm's multiple Group 3-winner Drafted, a 7-year-old Field Commission gelding, will look to get back on track for trainer David Duggan.

Drafted enjoyed a profitable 2019 campaign for former conditioner Doug Watson with two wins and a runner-up effort at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, including Group 3 scores in the Al Shindagha Sprint and Mahab Al Shimaal.

Winless in seven starts since the Mahab Al Shimaal, Drafted has made his last three starts at Aqueduct where his best result was a third in the 6 1/2-furlong Gravesend contested on a muddy track.

Last out, Drafted finished an even fourth in the Grade 3 Toboggan at seven furlongs on January 30.

Drafted, racing with cheek pieces off, will emerge from the outermost post 5 under Luis Saez.

Long Lake Stable's multiple graded stakes-placed Stan the Man, a 7-year-old Broken Vow chestnut, sports a consistent record of 8-1-2-2 at Belmont Park.

The versatile gelding captured the nine-furlong Queens County at the Big A in 2019 and last year won the six-furlong Tale of the Cat at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by John Terranova, Stan the Man would relish a sloppy track on Saturday. Through seven starts on wet footing, Stan the Man boasts a record of three wins and three seconds, including a smart allowance win traveling a one-turn mile in the slop at Belmont in May 2018.

Joel Rosario, aboard for the Tale of the Cat score, has the call from the inside post.

Mercy Man Racing's Town Classic will make his 50th career start in search of his first stakes win for trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr.

Bred in Ontario by Ballycroy Training Center, the 8-year-old Speightstown gelding has hit the board 35 times with six wins and a remarkable 20 runner-up efforts. Last out, Town Classic finished third for the ninth time when completing the trifecta in the seven-furlong Sir Shackleton on March 27 at Gulfstream Park.

Jose Ortiz will pilot Town Classic from post 2.

The Runhappy is slated as Race 4 on Saturday's 11-race card. First post is 1 p.m.

Belmont Park is now open to a limited number of spectators. All admission must be purchased in advance at nyra.com/belmont/tickets/.

For comprehensive information on health and safety protocols in effect for the Belmont Park spring/summer meet, please visit: https://www.nyra.com/belmont/visit/plan-your-visit.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Belmont Park, and the best way to bet every race of the spring/summer meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

The post Chateau Shortens Up To Headline Saturday’s Runhappy Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Wendell Fong Will Try To ‘Run The Show’ In Tom Fool

Gold Square's Wendell Fong will look to make the grade in Saturday's Grade 3, $200,000 Tom Fool Handicap, a six-furlong sprint for older horses at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The Tom Fool is part of a loaded Saturday card that includes the Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham, a one-turn mile contest that provides 50-20-10-5 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top four finishers; the $250,000 Busher Invitational for 3-year-old fillies offering 50-20-10-5 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points; and the $125,000 Heavenly Prize Invitational, a one-turn mile for fillies and mares 4-years-old and up.

Wendell Fong provided trainer Natalia Lynch – previously an assistant and exercise rider for Jeremiah Englehart – her first career win last out with a neck score in the six-furlong Fire Plug on January 16 at Laurel Park.

“He's pretty special,” said Lynch, who went out on her own last year. “He has so much personality. It's his world and we live in it at the barn. He really runs the show.”

Lynch helped prepare the 5-year-old son of Flat Out, previously trained by Englehart, for a winning career debut in December 2018 at Laurel. She was also along for the journey with Wendell Fong through a win in the 2019 Gold Fever at Belmont in a campaign that ended with a prominent fifth in the Grade 1 Woody Stephens at Belmont and a tenth in the Grade 2 Amsterdam at Saratoga.

Winless in six starts last season, Wendell Fong made his seasonal debut a winning one in the Fire Plug. Due to COVID-19-related travel restrictions, Lynch had to send Wendell Fong to the care of trainer Brittany Russell, who Lynch had previously worked for in Maryland.

Lynch said Wendell Fong's successful return to stakes company was very rewarding.

“When he first came to me in the fall a lot of people wanted me to put him in for a tag, but I always felt we could get him back to where he deserved to be,” said Lynch. “It's been a lot of believing in him and letting him tell us what he needed. To see him win that stakes race was really special. He showed so much heart. He ran back to how he used to run and he knew he won. When he got home, he bounced off the trailer. He was really proud of himself.”

Following a brief freshening, Wendell Fong worked an easy half-mile in 50.50 seconds with Lynch up on February 26 on the Belmont dirt training track.

“He went to Patty Hogan's farm for a bit of a break. He went out and played in the field for a few weeks and was a horse,” said Lynch. “When he came back in it didn't look like he lost too much fitness running around the field. We gave him a nice little breeze and it felt like he handled it OK.

“I don't let anyone else sit on him. He's a handful,” added Lynch “He was with me for a lot of the time in Maryland at Laurel. He came there before his first race and ended up staying through to the Woody Stephens.”

Lynch said she has worked on having the strong-minded Wendell Fong return to a settle and pounce racing style. The dark bay posted a good runner-up effort from off the pace on December 3 under Trevor McCarthy on December 3 at Laurel ahead of the last-to-first score with Sheldon Russell up in the Fire Plug.

“In the Woody Stephens, they changed his running style a little bit and sent him straight to the lead,” said Lynch. “After that, he kept trying to go to the lead and we had to get him back in the habit of coming from off the pace.

“The race before last, Trevor did a good job of getting him to settle and make his one run and it paid off in the Fire Plug,” added Lynch. “Sheldon did the same thing last time and let him take a deep breath. He loves to stalk horses.”

Lynch said a good result on Saturday could set up a return to Grade 1 company for Wendell Fong in the $300,000 Carter Handicap, a seven-furlong sprint for older horses on April 3 at the Big A.

“I hope it sets up on Saturday the way we want. I really want to get him over the surface and see how he handles it,” said Lynch. “If he likes it and is doing OK, we can head to the Carter.”

McCarthy has the call on Wendell Fong from the outermost post 6.

Multiple graded stakes-winner Share the Ride, trained by Antonio Arriaga for owner Silvino Ramirez, captured the Grade 3 Fall Highweight in November at the Big A and added a score in the Grade 3 General George last out on February 20 at Laurel Park.

The 6-year-old Candy Ride gelding enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2020, posting a record of 4-2-1 from nine starts.

Share the Ride will emerge from post 2 under returning rider Victor Carrasco.

Karl Watson, Michael E. Pegram, and Paul Weitman's Speed Pass, a 5-year-old son of Bodemeister trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, will make his first start outside of California.

The lightly raced gelding earned a 95 Beyer Speed Figure for a seven-length optional-claiming romp in December 2019 at Los Alamitos Race Course ahead of a third in the Grade 3 Palos Verdes in January 2020.

Speed Pass returned off an 11-month layoff last out to finish third in an optional-claiming sprint on January 30 at Santa Anita.

“He needed that race,” Baffert said. “This is going to be a step up. There was a race here at Santa Anita going seven furlongs, but I think six furlongs is going to be his limit. We'll take a swing at it and see how he fits in. Those New York horses are pretty tough.”

Manny Franco will guide Speed Pass from post 5.

Michael Dubb's Pete's Play Call was claimed for $62,500 out of a winning effort in an optional-claiming sprint in November and promptly won the Gravesend on January 2 at 6 1/2-furlongs over a muddy and sealed Aqueduct main track.

The 8-year-old Munnings chestnut followed that effort last out with a pacesetting second to American Power in the seven-furlong Grade 3 Toboggan on January 30 at the Big A.

Pete's Play Call will exit the inside post under Jorge Vargas, Jr. on the slight turnback in distance.

Dubb will also be represented by Chateau for trainer Rob Atras. The 6-year-old Flat Out gelding has hit the board in 23 of 32 starts, including six wins with purse earnings of $367,769.

The dark bay used his good early foot last out to notch a gate-to-wire score in a six furlong optional-claiming sprint on January 18 at the Big A that garnered a lofty 96 Beyer.

Kendrick Carmouche retains the mount from post 3.

Rounding out the field is M and A Racing's graded stakes winner Happy Farm, who steps up from a 1 3/4-length score last out when in for a $50,000 tag on February 6 at the Big A for trainer Linda Rice.

The 7-year-old Ghostzapper gelding won the 2019 Grade 3 Fall Highweight and was second in the Tom Fool last year to multiple Grade 1-winner Mind Control. The dark bay made his seasonal debut with a troubled fifth in the Gravesend.

Eric Cancel will pilot Happy Farm from post 4.

The Tom Fool is slated as Race 7 on Saturday's 10-race card. First post is 12:50 p.m. Eastern.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, and the best way to bet every race of the winter meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

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Bloodlines: Art Collector Preserves Greentree Stud Lineage

With a stylish 3 1/2-length victory over leading 3-year-old filly Swiss Skydiver in the Grade 2 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on July 11, Art Collector has moved into a position as one of the leading classic prospects of 2020 and is unbeaten in three consecutive races.

Actually, the handsome bay has finished in front in each of his last four races, stretching back to a blowout victory in a Nov. 30 allowance at Churchill Downs. After winning by 7 1/2 lengths, however, Art Collector was subsequently disqualified for the presence of a prohibited substance.

Transferred to trainer Tom Drury after that, Art Collector has continued his march to excellence with allowance victories this season on May 17 and June 13 at Churchill Downs, then skipped down I-64 to test those very positive-looking results against graded stakes company at Keeneland.

Never farther back than third in the 13-horse field, Art Collector had the lead at the stretch call and widened away from his competition to win in 1:48.11. Swiss Skydiver held second by 4 3/4 lengths from Rushie, and the form rather emphatically places Art Collector in the hunt for Kentucky Derby in September.

Bred in Kentucky by Bruce Lunsford, Art Collector races for his breeder. In taking his fourth official victory from eight starts, Art Collector became the first stakes winner for his dam, the Distorted Humor mare Distorted Legacy. She won three races at three and four, including the Sky Beauty Stakes at Belmont, and more importantly, Distorted Legacy was also second in the G1 Flower Bowl.

Distorted Legacy is one of two stakes winners out of the Private Account mare Bunting, who was second in the G1 Alcibiades Stakes. This is a family that performed nobly for decades at Greentree Stud and that got its start in the States with the importation of the Prince Bio mare Bebop, a half-sister to Oaks winner Sun Cap (Sunny Boy). Bebop herself had been third in the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood.

Bred to Greentree's Horse of the Year Tom Fool, Bebop's first foal was Bebopper, the first of eight consecutive fillies out of the dam, including stakes-placed Stepping High (No Robbery), the dam of multiple stakes winner and leading sire Buckaroo (Buckpasser). Bebopper did the most good for Greentree, however, with the major winners Stop the Music (Hail to Reason) and Hatchet Man (The Axe).

Stop the Music won the Dwyer and the Saratoga Special, then inherited the 1972 Champagne after Secretariat sort of intimidated him during the stretch run. Hatchet Man was later maturing than his half-brother but won the Dwyer at three, then also the G1 Widener and Haskell at five.

These were Bebopper's third and fourth foals; the mare's 11th foal was Flag Waver (Hoist the Flag), who won the 1983 Rampart Handicap at four and is the third dam of Art Collector. Flag Waver's first foal was stakes winner Abidjan (Sir Ivor) and her sixth was stakes-placed Bunting, the second dam of the Blue Grass winner.

Lunsford bought into this family with the acquisition of Bunting as a 3-year-old filly in training at the 1994 Keeneland November sale for $500,000. Bunting's first foal for Lunsford was the Storm Cat horse Vision and Verse. A rangy bay, Vision and Verse didn't win a lot of races but had a lot of class, winning the G2 Illinois Derby and finishing second in the G1 Belmont Stakes and Travers, third in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. The horse earned more than $1 million and went to stud in Kentucky at Hill 'n' Dale Farm.

Bunting had a trio of black-type daughters, and the best of these was Distorted Legacy. Her sire, Distorted Humor, threw some speed into this very classic family, and even so, the best distance for Distorted Legacy was 10 to 12 furlongs. In addition to a good second to Stacelita in the Flower Bowl at 10 furlongs, Distorted Legacy was fourth, beaten a length for the victory, in the Breeders' Cup Filly Turf.

So there should be little concern about Art Collector's ability to handle the 10 furlongs of the Derby, and this colt is following the well-worn path of improvement laid down by Horse of the Year A.P. Indy and so many of his descendants, with good to reasonable form late at two, then radically accelerating improvement at three.

This is a classic colt winning a classic prep in the proper style, and he appears to be a potential masterpiece for the owner, trainer, and family.

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