(from Belmont Park report)
Sunday's $150,000 Tom Fool Handicap (gr. II) at seven furlongs at Belmont Park is the last chance for Silver Train to run over his favorite track until the fall so trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. is taking this start as seriously as any grade I race."We're ready to go," Dutrow said of the 4-year-old son of Old Trieste. "We're putting everything we have into this race. He's on top of his game right now, and I'm very happy to have him that way because he's not that way all the time."Silver Train was on the top of his game when he won his second grade I over Belmont, the Metropolitan Mile on Memorial Day. Pressing fast fractions throughout the `Met Mile,' Silver Train dug in determinedly to hold off a late rush from Sun King, winning by a head under regular rider Edgar Prado. Dutrow opted to give Silver Train some down time after the Met Mile and did not work the colt until June 27, nearly a month afterward. Dutrow said Silver Train would skip the $250,000 Forego (gr. I) on Sept. 2 and aim for the $400,000 Vosburgh Oct. 7 at Belmont instead. Dutrow notes Silver Train's 4-for-6 record and two important grade I wins at Belmont, including last fall's TVG Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) triumph."I'm not even going to mess with him up there," Dutrow said. "We'll give him Saratoga off and point him to the Vosburgh. He can be ready for a race like the Vosburgh off training."The streaking Anew is coming into the Tom Fool off four straight wins including an authoritative victory in the True North (gr. II) on Belmont Stakes Day.Anew has undergone a major form reversal since he was gelded over the winter. On Dec. 31, Anew finished sixth in a $25,000 claimer over the inner track, his ninth straight loss.After being gelded, the son of Awesome Again demolished a three-lifetime claiming field, scored in an allowance and starter handicap, then pulled off a minor upset of Tiger in the True North.Scott Blasi is Anew's trainer of record as Steve Asmussen serves a six-month suspension. The True North was Anew's first stakes win. Trainer Jimmy Jerkens has two upset chances in the Tom Fool with Sir Greeley and Voodoo.Sir Greeley clearly did not run his best race when beaten 9 ¼ lengths in the Met Mile by Silver Train. He had won or just missed in his last four starts leading up to the Met.Voodoo is also coming off a disappointing race, beaten 15 ¾ lengths by Anew in the True North. The True North was the 8-year-old gelding's first race since November and the speed-favoring track on Belmont Day did not play to his favor. $150,000 Tom Fool Handicap (gr. II, Race 8, 4:45 p.m.), 3 & Up, 7 Furlongs
PP. Horse, Weight, Jockey
1. Silver Train (KY), 121, Edgar S. Prado
2. War Front (KY), 115, John R. Velazquez
3. Big Apple Daddy (NY), 115, Richard Migliore
4. Sir Greeley (KY), 116, Eibar Coa
5. Anew (KY), 116, Alan Garcia
6. Mach Speed (KY), 113, Michael J. Luzzi
7. Voodoo (KY), 114, Javier Castellano