Calibrachoa assured hot pace in Tom Fool Handicap

By David Grening
3/4/11 9:09 AM
ESPN

Not that he probably needs it, but Calibrachoa will have a little help from one of his friends when he seeks his third straight stakes victory in Saturday's Grade 3, $150,000 Tom Fool Handicap at Aqueduct.

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OZONE PARK, N.Y. -- Not that he probably needs it, but Calibrachoa will have a little help from one of his friends when he seeks his third straight stakes victory in Saturday's Grade 3, $150,000 Tom Fool Handicap at Aqueduct.

In two starts since being claimed for $40,000 by owner Mike Repole and trainer Todd Pletcher, Calibrachoa has come from off the pace to win. To ensure Calibrachoa will have a target in the Tom Fool, Repole and Pletcher will start Have You Ever, a speedy 5-year-old gelding whom Repole and Pletcher claimed for $50,000 in January.

"We will put Have You Ever on the lead," Pletcher said. "We didn't want anybody getting loose. We wanted to make sure it's an honestly run race and let Calibrachoa be able to run the race he wants to run."

The pace should indeed be hot with Deputy Daney -- a multiple stakes winner over the inner track -- and Fastus Cactus, the pacesetter in the Toboggan, drawn in the one and two slots, just inside of Have You Ever. Calibrachoa, the 119-pound highweight will break from post 6 under Ramon Dominguez.

Flat Bold is an upset threat. A 5-year-old gelded son of Flatter, Flat Bold took advantage of a strong early pace to win a third-level allowance race over the inner track Jan. 28. The horse he beat by one length that day, Be Bullish, came back to win the Hollie Hughes for New York-breds Feb. 21.

Flat Bold, trained by Tom Albertrani, will break from post 5 under Eddie Castro and will be in receipt of five pounds from Calibrachoa.

Dahlgren Chapel, a New York-bred who beat open company last out, was a late supplement to the field.

With only five betting interests, the Tom Fool will go as race 5 (2:52 p.m. Eastern).


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