Calibrachoa snatched the G3 Tom Fool Handicap by a neck from Caleb's Posse in a tight finish at Aqueduct.
The Tom Fool drew a field of 6 for the 6-furlong contest. Royal Currier set fast early fractions of :22 and :44, pressured all the way by Justin Phillip, Emcee and Calibrachoa. Caleb's Posse broke last of a tightly-packed field and trailed 2-3 lengths back. Calibrachoa powered past Royal Currier in deep stretch. Meanwhile, Caleb's Posse made his explosive closing move at the top of the stretch, only to miss Calibrachoa at the wire. Final time for the Tom Fool was 1:09.7.
Calibrachoa came into the race off a win in the Toboggan on Feb. 4. The 5-year-old horse by Southern Image has been a force in New York sprints his entire career for owner Mike Repole and trainer Todd Pletcher. The Tom Fool is an especially sweet victory, coming over Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner, Caleb's Posse.
"I was getting very nervous when Caleb’s Posse was making his move," said Pletcher, "Because we’ve seen that before (in the 2011 King's Bishop). So, we were happy to see the wire when we did."
Caleb's Posse was making his 2012 debut in the Tom Fool for trainer Donnie von Hemel. The 4-year-old colt by Posse will make his next start in the G1 Carter handicap on April 7.