Tom Fool Handicap 2014 Contenders & Odds

Dave Bond | OTB Writer

Las Vegas, NV - Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York will play host to the Grade 3 Tom Fool Handicap this Saturday, March 1. Horses three years old and upward will be featured as they dash six furlongs on Aqueduct's main track searching for the winner's share of the $200,000 purse.

A field of seven have been confirmed for the Tom Fool - race 4 on Aqueduct's Saturday card. Post time is 1:52 PM. Here is a brief look into the past performances of all seven combatants for this Grade 3 stakes.

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2014 Tom Fool Handicap Race Favorite Entries

Strapping Groom - raced in graded stakes company for the first time in July and finished fifth in the Grade 3 James Marvin here but followed that with a good win over Candyman E in the restricted Kid Russell Stakes August 12 and his best ever result - a win in the Grade 1 Forego Stakes at Saratoga August 31 at 15-1 odds. He had a somewhat disappointing fourth in the Grade 3 Bold Ruler at Belmont Park October 26 after a third in the Grade 1 Vosburgh September 28 but has looked better in his last two starts. Last time out was a dominant 6 1/2 length win on this track in the minor Gravesend Handicap December 21 after a good second in the Grade 3 Fall Highweight here November 28. Strapping Groom has nine wins, six seconds and two third place finishes in 26 career starts for trainer David Jacobson and leaves from the rail as the 7-5 morning line favorite with Irad Ortiz aboard.

Candyman E - David Jacobson trainee won Grade 3 Toboggan last time out and now has 21 career starts with 10 wins, three seconds and three third place finishes. He enters this week on a three race win streak - the restricted Spooky Mulder Stakes on this track before the Toboggan and an Allowance Optional Claiming at Belmont Park October 26. This after a sixth in the Grade 1 Vosburgh and a second in the minor Kid Russell Stakes at Saratoga in August. Candyman E has been on quite a roll the last four months and is the 5-2 second choice on the morning line. He leaves from post 2 with Charles Lopez in the saddle.

Tom Fool Handicap 2014 | Remaining Contenders

Dads Caps - has seven career starts for trainer Rudy Rodriguez with three wins, two seconds and a third place finish. Last time out was a second behind Candyman E in the Grade 3 Toboggan Stakes here February 1 after another second in minor Spooky Mulder Stakes behind Candyman E here, an Allowance Optional Claiming score on this track in November. He looks for his first stakes and hopes to finally conquer Candyman E as he leaves from post 4 with Cornelio Velazquez in the saddle. He is 3-1 on the morning line.

Non Stop - is coming off a good third place finish in the Grade 3 Toboggan Stakes behind Candyman E and Dads Cap as the longest shot in the field here February 1 after a win in a Starter Allowance on this track January 1, a third in a Starter Optional Claiming December 11 and a Claiming score at Belmont Park in October. He has six wins, five seconds and two third place finishes in 24 career starts but is coming off arguably his most impressive result to date. Non Stop is 10-1 on the morning line and will have Abel Lezcano aboard from gate 5.

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Sensational Sam - won a pair of minor stakes races to start his career but has struggled in stakes action since. He is coming off an OK second in a Starter Allowance here February 17 after a respectable fourth in the Grade 3 Toboggan Stakes February 1. He has 29 career starts with nine wins, five seconds and two third place finishes and has placed in four of his last five starts overall. Sensational Sam looks to hit the board for the first time in graded stakes action and is 12-1 on the morning line.

Saturday's Charm - Steve Asmussen trained colt is coming off a second in an Allowance Optional Claiming on this track December 26 after a disappointing sixth in the Grade 3 Fall Highweight Handicap here November 28. This after a good third as the longest shot in the field in the Grade 3 Bold Ruler at Belmont Park October 26. He is the defending runner-up in this race during a streak of six races in which he placed. Saturday's Charm last won February 1, 2013 and hopes to break his losing streak Saturday. He is 15-1 on the morning line and will depart from post 3 with Jose Ortiz aboard.

Jake N Elwood - raced in graded stakes company for the first time November 28 and finished eighth in the Grade 3 Fall Highweight Handicap here and followed that with a third last time out in an Allowance Optional Claiming on this track December 26. Before those results were a sixth in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Laurel Park November 1, a fifth in the minor New Castle Stakes at Delaware Park September 14 and an eight in the minor Banjo Picker Sprint at Parx September. He had a two race win streak in the summer but has failed to place in four of five starts since. Jake N Elwood is the longest shot in the field at 20-1 and leaves from the outside post.


2014 Tom Fool Handicap Entries & Odds

Race 4 on Aqueduct Racetrack's Saturday card with a Post Time of 1:52 PM.

Entry Horse Jockey Trainer ML Odds
1 Strapping Groom I. Ortiz, Jr. D. Jacobson
1-1
2 Candyman E C. Lopez D. Jacobson
5-2
3 Saturday's Charm J. Ortiz S. Asmussen
15-1
4 Dads Caps C. Velasquez R. Rodriguez
7-2
5 Non Stop A. Lezcano D. Cannizzo
12-1
6 Sensational Slam A. Castellano, Jr. P. Quick
15-1
7 Jake N Elwood M. Franco D. Duggan
30-1

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