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Do Share keeps glory to himself with convincing G3 Tom Fool Handicap victory

by Brian Bohl

Three Diamond Farm's Do Share ran down three horses with a strong stretch-drive surge, clearing away for an impressive 6 1/2-length win in the 44th running of the Grade 3, $200,000 Tom Fool Handicap for 4-year-olds and up on Saturday, Gotham Day, at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The 6-year-old Candy Ride gelding earned his first trip to the winner's circle since 2017, staying off the early speed as 2-1 favorite Skyler's Scramjet led the seven-horse field through a blistering opening quarter-mile in 21.92 seconds and the half in 44.83 on the fast main track.

Jockey Reylu Gutierrez, bidding for his first career graded stakes victory, urged Do Share into contention from the outside. His charge responded by overtaking Bavaro, Syndergaard and Skyler's Scramjet, rocketing to the wire in a final time of 1:08.77.

"It was a great trip, talk about a great horse. He just took me to the wire. Any rider probably could have won on him today. He was going at light speed today," said Gutierrez who officially becomes a journeyman jockey on Sunday after a stellar apprenticeship in which he won 109 races in 2018.

Do Share won for the first time in three starts since Mike Maker took over as trainer, and posted his first victory since the Gravesend on December 23, 2017 at the Big A. The Kentucky bred improved to 4-1-1 in seven career Aqueduct starts.

"He [Maker] gave me an opportunity to ride in Oklahoma for him and here," Gutierrez said. "My first open stakes for him was down in Gulfstream and now my first graded stakes win is for him here in New York, so I have to get a great Christmas present for Mr. Maker and his team."

Off at 5-1, Do Share returned $12.80 on a $2 win bet. His first career graded stakes win increased his lifetime earnings to $567,408.

M and A Racing's Life in Shambles, a Jason Servis trainee and Gold member of the New York Racing Association Starter Loyalty Program, finished a half-length in front of Silver member Bavaro for second.

"I had a good trip. I tried to let my horse fall back and make one run because I knew the pace was going to be hot," said Life in Shambles jockey Manny Franco. "The winner was just too much the best. My horse gave me all he had, we were just second best today."

Skyler's Scramjet, a Silver member and the post-time mutuel favorite trained by Michelle Nevin, finished fourth. Syndergaard, Bon Raison and Fully Vested completed the order of finish.