By Michael Dubb Castle will be looking to defend his title on March 5 in the Tom Fool Handicap (G3), a six-hair sprint for the older horses at Aqueduct race track.
Coached by Rob Atras, Chateau hasn’t been in a race since scoring a convincing six-point Gravesend Stakes in December 19 at Big A. The 7-year-old boy. Spread gelding was considered for the seven-feathered Toboggan Stock (G3) on February 5 but the conditioner chose to wait for the position.
The dark bay, who boasts an 8-10-10 record in 39 starting with a pocket income of $615,019, has passed numerous training tracks at Belmont Parkincludes half a mile in: 50.70 February 27.
Atras said he is hoping for a big push from Chateau, who proved to be a dark horse at the Big A, where he holds a 12-6-2-3 record.
Atras said: “It’s been a while. “His last works were quite good, so we hope for the best effort from him. He can start fresh and he obviously likes the track here at the Aqueduct.”
Atras hailed Chateau as leading, who has only finished twice in his last 12 appearances.
“For a horse that has been trained for so long, at such a tall stature, it is impressive that it has been able to keep its form for so long,” says Atras. “He always tries to work hard. He’s a little bit slow, but he’s fast enough and capable enough that he always shows up and wins a piece of it.”
Kendrick Carmouche retained the mount from post 5 on the Chateau, who was assigned a tall bronze weight of 123 pounds.
Vegso Racing Stable’s Florida-hometown Effective graduated as a graded bet winner.
Previously campaigned by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, 4-year-old boy Reprimand Colt joined the stables of Saffie Joseph Jr. last summer and since then have made six starts at Gulfstream Parkwon shares of Bear’s Den in third place in September.
The versatile bay completed its second season in December with a score over the older company in the Mr. Pros Inspector Stakes (G3) is seven points long. Finally, Officating made its seasonal debut with a third place away from Fred W. Hooper Stakes presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa (G3) by a mile at a time.
Out of the Dixie Union mare Come a Callin, Officating is a half-brother to the level 1 winner Caledonian Road . He will be driven by Manny Franco, from post 3 touting a high 123-pound bronze.
Three Diamonds Farm’s Prime a 4-year-old boy running a light race of Quality Sugar made a winning debut for coach Cherie DeVaux for the last time, scoring from gate to rope in an extended six-time allowance sprint on January 23 at Fair Grounds & Slots.
Previously coached by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, Prime Factor finished third in last year’s Holy Bull Stakes (G3) before a dominant attempt at the Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2), both at Co. Gulfstream member.
In addition to the mare Bernardini Haylie Brae, Prime Factor, last September’s original $900,000 Keeneland purchase in 2019, was purchased for $185,000 at the November Breeding Stock Sale. 2021 by Keeneland.
Prime Factor, set at 118 pounds, will emerge from 4th place under Jose Lezcano.
Rounding this field is Repo Rocks (track 1, Ruben Silvera, 119 pounds), and Timeless Bonus (track 2, Trevor McCarthy, 119 pounds).
Item: Tom Fool H. (G3)
Aqueduct race trackSaturday, March 5, 2022, Race 3
- Level III
- 6f
- Dust
- 200,000 dollars
- 4 years or more
- 1:52 pm (local)
