Calibrachoa smothers foes in Tom Fool

Calibrachoa flies home in Tom Fool (NYRA/Adam Coglianese) Sitting the garden trip behind two speed-crazy rivals in Saturday’s $150,000 Tom Fool H. (G3) at Aqueduct, Repole Stable’s CALIBRACHOA (Southern Image) simply had to wait for the inevitable stretch meltdown in order to exude his superiority. Calibrachoa’s entrymate, Have You Ever (Van Nistelrooy), pressured Deputy Daney (Officer) into setting an opening quarter of :21 3/5, but not could keep pace with that rival as Deputy Daney extended his lead to 2 1/2 lengths through a half in :44. However, after working so hard to dispense with Have You Ever, Deputy Daney had nothing left for the final furlong and readily wilted as Calibrachoa, at one point 7 1/2 lengths behind, surged past under minimal urging by Ramon Dominguez. The more highly-favored half of an entry that went off at 2-5, Calibrachoa was 4 1/2 lengths clear at the wire in a time of 1:09 3/5 for six furlongs on the fast inner dirt. The win mutuel was $3.10. Fastus Cactus (Cactus Ridge), a claiming-quality 54-1 chance, raced in fourth early and also benefited from the early speed duel. He moved past Deputy Daney to grab second by four lengths. Deputy Daney was third by 5 1/4 lengths in the strung-out field, and was followed under the wire by Dahlgren Chapel (Chapel Royal), Flat Bold (Flatter) and Have You Ever. The exacta paid $59 and the 1-3-2 trifecta was worth $140.50.

“It was Mike’s idea to put another horse in there to make sure we had an
honest pace,” said trainer Todd Pletcher, referring to owner Mike Repole. “It
looked like he won with something left. We’ll look at the Carter (H. [G1] on
April 9.”

Calibrachoa was bred in Kentucky by Nelson Bunker Hunt, who initially raced
the dark bay four-year-old. Trained by Steve Asmussen, Calibrachoa passed his
first two allowance conditions for those connections before descending into the
claiming ranks. He was haltered by Pletcher for $40,000 following a 4 1/4-length
triumph at Aqueduct on November 18, and proceeded to win the December 18
Gravesend S. going six furlongs and the January 22 Toboggan S. (G3) at the same
distance. His record now stands at 13-7-3-1, $310,540.

Calibrachoa was produced from the Grade 2-placed Fort Lauderdale (Montbrook),
making him a half-brother to the stakes-placed Linnea (Candy Ride [Arg]), an
unnamed juvenile filly by Northern Afleet and a yearling colt by Mutakddim. Fort
Lauderdale herself is a half-sister to the dam of Grade 1 winner Bellamy Road
(Concerto).

This female family has produced the likes of Grade 1 winners General Assembly
(Secretariat), Versailles Treaty (Danzig), Gold Fever (Forty Niner) and Chief
Honcho (Chief’s Crown); Grade 2 winners Saarland (Unbridled) and Jackpot
(Seeking the Gold); and Grade 3 winners Out of Place (Cox’s Ridge), Lead Kindly
Light (Majestic Light), Expressive Dance (Riva Ridge) and For Kicks (Topsider).