Aldebaran, who finished third in the June 14 Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) at Churchill Downs, will shorten up from that race's nine-furlong distance when he competes in Friday's seven-furlong Tom Fool Handicap at Belmont.
Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, who will saddle Northern Rock for Friday's Tom Fool Handicap (gr. II), hopes the gelding gives the trainer his first stakes victory at Belmont this meet. McLaughlin is certainly doing well this season--more than half of his starters have won their races--but he hasn't entered a horse in added-money company yet.
He'll have to face Aldebaran and six other contenders first. In his last start Aldebaran finished third in the nine-furlong Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I). Before that, he won the grade I Met Mile.
The field for Friday's grade II, $150,000 Tom Fool Handicap, from the rail out:
PP, horse, trainer, jockey, weight
1--Ginzano, Allen Iwinski, Jose Santos, 112
2--Najran, Nick Zito, Edgar Prado, 116
3--Vodka, John Hertler, Heberto Castillo Jr. 113
4--Northern Rock, Kiaran McLaughlin Richard Migliore 114
5--Aldebaran, Bobby Frankel, Jerry Bailey, 122
6--State City, Tom Albertrani, Jorge Chavez, 118
7--Voodoo, Jimmy Jerkens, John Velazquez, 114
8--Peeping Tom, Patrick Reynolds, Shaun Bridgmohan 117
