Fully Vested to play the Fool at Aqueduct

Consistent sprinter Fully Vested steps up to G3 level for the first time in the Tom Fool Handicap over six furlongs on dirt at Aqueduct, USA, on Saturday, 9 March.
 
The five-year-old son of Discreet Cat, trained by Tom Albertrani, has won or been placed on seven of his eight appearances and quickened clear to score by five and a half lengths on his latest start in an allowance race over the same course and distance on Saturday, 5 January.
 
Jose Lezcano, on board on that occasion, keeps the ride on Fully Vested, who breaks widest of all in a field of seven that also includes Skyler’s Scramjet and Do Share, who were first and second in the 2018 Tom Fool Handicap, plus Aqueduct G3 winner Life In Shambles. The Godolphin runner has joint bottom-weight of 8st 3lbs.
 
Tom Albertrani commented: “Fully Vested ran a huge race on his last start and we are hoping to see a repeat effort this time around.
 
“He is coming up against a tougher group of horses and is taking a big step up in class, but we felt that this looks a good opportunity to have a crack at a nice race.
 
“He had some issues in the past, but came back from a long lay-off last year and has been training very well. Hopefully, this could be a good year for him.”
 
Elsewhere on Saturday’s card at Aqueduct, three-year-old filly Enliven (Kiaran McLaughlin/Dylan Davis, drawn four of the 12 runners) steps back up to a mile on dirt for the Busher Stakes, after coming home fifth at the same course in the seven-furlong Ruthless Stakes at the end of January.
 
The daughter of Ghostzapper has had two Graded appearances at Aqueduct, headed by a good second in the G3 Tempted Stakes over a mile in November.
 
Kiaran McLaughlin said: “We felt that Enliven didn’t get an ideal trip down the inside in the Ruthless Stakes.
 
“She is doing well and hopefully she can race on the outside in the clear this time.”