Runninsonofagun (outside) elevated to 1st in the Bold Ruler (G3) Oct. 26 at Aqueduct (NYRA/Coglianese)
Keith McCalmont/NYRA Press Office
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Karen Zimmerman’s dual Grade 3-winner Runninsonofagun brings solid recent form to Saturday’s Grade 3, $175,000 Tom Fool, a six-furlong sprint for older horses, at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Trained by John Toscano, Jr., the 6-year-old Gun Runner gelding has not crossed the wire first since taking the Grade 3 Bold Ruler in October 2022 here – although he was elevated to victory in that same race in October when the pacesetting My Buddy B was disqualified for interfering with an onrushing Runninsonofagun at the sixteenth pole.
Runninsonofagun [post 1, Ruben Silvera] has crossed the wire second or third in each of his last five outings here at the Big A, including defeats to the streaking Maximus Meridius when second, by a neck, last out on February 1 in the seven-furlong Listed Toboggan over fast footing and a third-place finish in the six-furlong Listed Gravesend contested over sloppy and sealed going on December 28.
With Maximus Meridius entered at Parx Racing next week, Toscano, Jr. said he is hopeful Runninsonofagun can return to winning form.
“He beat me the last two times, so it’s good I don’t have to get even this time,” said Toscano, Jr., with a laugh. “He’s doing good. We’re ready to go. Hopefully we’ll get another feather in his cap this Saturday.”
Runninsonofagun, claimed for $40,000 out of a second-out graduation in December 2021, has banked $620,865 through a 23-5-4-7 ledger that includes six additional graded placings, including a third-place finish in the 2022 Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial won by Jack Christopher. He crossed the wire second in the Listed Fall Highweight in November, but was disqualified from purse money due to a medication violation.
“I was fortunate enough to win a three-way shake to get him and he’s been very good to us,” Toscano, Jr. said. “He’s a great check-getter. If you put him out there, he’ll bring you home a check. He’s effective at six and seven – he’s an effective sprinter. He’s run with some good ones all his career.”
Toscano, Jr. said he expects Ruben Silvera will map out a stalking trip for the consistent and combative Runninsonofagun.
“You can’t go near his stall. He’s got a spicy personality, and that aggressiveness is what he shows in the afternoon,” Toscano, Jr. said. “In a short field, he lays close. We’ll be sitting there off the speed and hopefully we will have a good trip.”
Bred in Kentucky by Dattt Farm, Runninsonofagun, out of the dual stakes-placed Malibu Moon mare Golden Artemis, is a half-brother to Grade 1-winner My Conquestadory.
Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber and Pantofel’s New York-bred Bold Journey [post 4, Eric Cancel] has notched six of his seven career wins at the Big A, including a grade-making score in the six-furlong Grade 3 Fall Highweight Handicap here in November 2023.
Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, the 6-year-old Hard Spun gelding followed his Fall Highweight coup with a stylish 4 1/2-length romp in that December’s Listed Gravesend – an effort that registered a career-best 100 Beyer Speed Figure and completed a hat trick of local scores.
Bold Journey tried his luck in six-furlong sprints in the Middle East in the winter of 2024, landing third in the Group 3 Riyadh Dirt Sprint that February at King Abdulaziz Racecourse and 10th one month later in the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen at Meydan Racecourse.
He did not return to action until January 26 when third to multiple graded stakes-placed Cyclone Mischief in a 6 1/2-furlong optional-claimer at Gulfstream Park. Bold Journey has worked back twice, including a bullet half-mile in 48.60 seconds on Valentine’s Day over the Payson Park Training Center dirt.
Bred by Fred W. Hertrich, III and John D. Fielding, the $80,000 OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training purchase is a half-brother to Grade 1-winning New York-bred Americanrevolution.
Michael Dubb’s graded stakes-placed Top Gunner [post 2, Manny Franco] earned a field-best 104 Beyer last out for his 4 1/4-length local optional-claiming score over returning rival Surveillance on January 16.
Trained by dual Eclipse Award-winner Brad Cox, the 8-year-old Into Mischief gelding was haltered for $62,500 out of a third-place effort in August at Saratoga Race Course and paid immediate dividends by stalking and pouncing to victory in the 6 1/2-furlong Parx Sprint at its namesake track in September.
He failed to threaten in a trio of subsequent stakes attempts before switching tactics last out with a gate-to-wire score under Manny Franco.
Top Gunner boasts a record of 34-8-6-8 with $685,279 in purse earnings. Among his career highlights are a third in the 2022 Grade 2 Phoenix at Keeneland and a win that year in the restricted St. Matthews Overnight at Churchill Downs.
Winning Move Stable’s Surveillance [post 6, Jose Lezcano] was supplemented to this event by Big A winter meet leading trainer Linda Rice on the back of a trio of local runner-up sprint efforts here.
The 8-year-old Constitution grey was haltered for $62,500 three starts back on November 24 and the millionaire gelding will look to build upon an impressive 41-10-8-8 ledger that includes a win in the off-the-turf Grade 3 Troy last summer at Saratoga and a trio of stakes wins in 2022 at Fair Grounds.
Ridgewood Barns’ four-time winner Ridgewood Runner [post 5, Luis Rivera, Jr.] will make his third attempt in stakes company for trainer Carlos Martin.
The 4-year-old Klimt gelding enters from a prominent neck score over Wico last out sprinting seven furlongs here on February 8. The third-place finisher of that event, Sheriff Bianco, exited to win the state-bred Say Florida Sandy.
“This is an interesting spot,” Martin said. “It seems like he has an affinity for seven-eighths. He has a high cruising speed. At three-quarters, there’s always a question mark cutting back, but I’m confident he is going to run his race.”
Completing the field is graded stakes-placed Full Moon Madness [post 3, Kendrick Carmouche], who enters from a pair of Listed stakes placings for trainer Michelle Nevin.
The Tom Fool is slated as Race 4 on Saturday’s 10-race card which is headlined by the one-mile Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham, providing 50-25-15-10-5 Kentucky Derby qualifying points [Race 8]. The stacked card also includes the Listed $150,000 Stymie at one mile for older horses [Race 6], and the one-mile Listed $200,000 Busher for 3-year-old fillies, offering 50-25-15-10-5 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points [Race 7]. First post is 12:40 p.m. Eastern.
