The Tom Fool Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for four-year-olds and older at a distance of six furlongs on the dirt run annually in early March at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. The event currently offers a purse of $175,000.

History The race is named for U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee Tom Fool who was champion two-year-old of 1951 and U.S. Horse of the Year in 1953. He is one of four horses to win the New York Handicap Triple which consists of the Metropolitan Handicap, the Suburban Handicap and the Brooklyn Handicap.

The inaugural running of event was on 17 December 1975 with conditions as a handicap for three-year-olds and older over a distance of seven furlongs and was won by Hobeau Farm's five-year-old Kinsman Hope who was trained by US Hall of Fame trainer H. Allen Jerkens and ridden by jockey John Ruane winning by a margin of one and one-half lengths in a time of 1:21.

The following year the event was moved and scheduled in the summer meet at Aqueduct and held in July and in 1977 the summer meeting returned to Belmont Park.

The winner of the 1978 running, J. O. Tobin as top weight carrying 129 lbs won easily by lengths in a very fast time of 1:20. Although this would J. O. Tobin's last victory his six wins would be enough to capture US Champion Sprint Horse for 1978.

In although the event continued with handicap conditions in 1979 the event's name was modified to the Tom Fool Stakes and was used as such until 1995. In 1981 the American Graded Stakes Committee upgraded the classification of the event to Grade III and the following year to Grade II.

In 1987 Groovy won the event for the second time in easily by lengths as the 3/5 odds-on favorite. Groovy's win was his fourth straight. He would win two more events before finishind 2nd in the Breeders' Cup Sprint. His efforts won him an Eclipse Award as US Champion Sprint Horse for 1987.

In 2002 the winner Left Bank started as the 8/5 favorite and set a new track record of 1:20.17 for the seven-furlong distance.

The 2004 running of the event only attracted four entrants. Stronach Stables' four-year-old Ghostzapper was returning after a lengthy nine-month layoff after his Grade I Vosburgh Stakes win and continued his winning streak comfortable winning the event in 1:20.42. Trainer Bobby Frankel however would pursue events that were a longer distance culminating with a victory in the Breeders' Cup Classic. Ghostzapper's outstanding season would earn him US Horse of the Year honors for 2004.

After not being held in 2010, the event was downgraded to Grade III and moved to Aqueduct in 2011 where it is held in March. From 2011 to 2017, the event was run on the inner track but is now run on the main track.

In 2015 the conditions of the event were modified not allow three-year-olds to enter.

Records

Speed record: 6 furlongs: 1:08.77 – Do Share (2019) 7 furlongs: 1:20.17 – Left Bank (2002)

Margins: lengths – Track Barron (1985) lengths – J. O. Tobin (1978), Groovy (1987), Do Share (2019)

Most wins: 2 – Salutos Amigos (2015, 2016) 2 – Calibrachoa (2011, 2012) 2 – Rise Jim (1981, 1982) 2 – Groovy (1986, 1987)

Most wins by a jockey: 7 – Ángel Cordero Jr. (1976, 1981, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1991)

Most wins by a trainer: 5 – Todd A. Pletcher (2000, 2002, 2009, 2011, 2012) 5 – H. Allen Jerkens (1975, 1984, 1994, 1998, 2005)

Most wins by an owner: 2 – William H. Grinold (1981, 1982) 2 – Hobeau Farm (1975, 2005) 2 – Shadwell Racing (1996, 2008) 2 – Repole Stable (2011, 2012) 2 – David Jacobson (2015, 2016) 2 – Southern Equine Stable (2015, 2016)

Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefAt Aqueduct – Tom Fool Stakes2026Bold Journey7Eric CancelWilliam I. MottPantofel Stable, Wachtel Stable & Gary Barber6 furlongs1:10.70$169,750III2025Full Moon Madness5Kendrick Carmouche Michelle NevinJay Em Ess Stable6 furlongs 1:11:10$175,000IIITom Fool Handicap2024Super Chow4Madison OlverJorge DelgadoLea Farms6 furlongs1:10.86$175,000III2023Little Vic4Carlos OliveroJuan Carlos AvilaVictoria's Ranch6 furlongs1:09.73$150,000III2022Officiating 4Manuel FrancoSaffie Joseph Jr.Vegso Racing Stable6 furlongs1:12.22$194,000III2021Chateau6Kendrick CarmoucheRob AtrasMichael Dubb6 furlongs1:12.10$200,000III2020Mind Control4Junior AlvaradoGregory D. SaccoRed Oak Stable & Madaket Stables6 furlongs1:10.88$213,000III2019Do Share6Reylu GutierrezMichael J. MakerThree Diamonds Farm6 furlongs1:08.77$205,200III2018Skyler's Scramjet4Trevor McCarthyMichelle NevinSJB Stable & Marcello Micozzi6 furlongs1:11.38$200,000III2017Spartiatis7Rajiv MaraghLeon J. BlusiewiczConstantine Peter Beler6 furlongs1:11.23$200,000III2016Salutos Amigos6Cornelio VelasquezDavid JacobsonDavid Jacobson & Southern Equine Stable6 furlongs1:10.17$200,000III2015Salutos Amigos5Cornelio VelasquezDavid JacobsonDavid Jacobson & Southern Equine Stable6 furlongs1:09.61$200,000III2014Strapping Groom7Irad Ortiz Jr.David JacobsonDrawing Away Stable & David Jacobson6 furlongs1:09.85$200,000III2013Comma to the Top5Joel RosarioPeter L. MillerGary Barber6 furlongs1:10.26$200,000III2012Calibrachoa5Cornelio VelasquezTodd A. PletcherRepole Stable6 furlongs1:09.07$200,000III2011§ Calibrachoa4Todd A. PletcherRepole Stable6 furlongs1:09.67$150,000III2010Race not heldAt Belmont Park2009Munnings3John R. VelazquezTodd A. PletcherDerrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier & Michael B. Tabor7 furlongs1:21.08$185,000II20084Alan GarciaKiaran P. McLaughlinShadwell Racing7 furlongs1:22.73$161,000II2007High Finance4John R. VelazquezWest Point Stable7 furlongs1:21.81$197,500II2006Silver Train4Edgar S. PradoRichard E. Dutrow Jr.Four Roses Thoroughbreds7 furlongs1:21.66$150,000II2005Smokume4Chantal SutherlandH. Allen JerkensHobeau Farm7 furlongs1:21.92$150,000II2004Ghostzapper4Javier CastellanoRobert J. FrankelStronach Stables7 furlongs1:20.42$142,500II2003Aldebaran5Jerry D. BaileyRobert J. FrankelFlaxman Holdings7 furlongs1:22.54$150,000II2002Left Bank5John R. VelazquezTodd A. PletcherMichael B. Tabor7 furlongs1:20.17$150,000II2001Exchange Rate4Jerry D. BaileyD. Wayne Lukas Padua Stables 7 furlongs1:21.24$150,000II2000Trippi3Jerry D. BaileyTodd A. PletcherDogwood Stable7 furlongs1:21.69$150,000II1999Crafty Friend6Richard MiglioreJohn C. KimmelThe Thoroughbred Corporation7 furlongs1:20.62$150,000II1998Banker's Gold4Jorge F. ChavezH. Allen JerkensGeorgia E. Hofmann 7 furlongs1:21.04$150,000II1997Diligence4Jose A. SantosNicholas P. ZitoKinsman Stable7 furlongs1:22.40$150,000II1996Kayrawan4Richard MiglioreKiaran P. McLaughlinShadwell Racing7 furlongs1:22.95$108,100IITom Fool Stakes1995Lite the Fuse4Julie KroneRichard E. Dutrow Sr.Richard E. Dutrow Sr.7 furlongs1:21.72$108,700II1994Virginia Rapids4Jean-Luc SamynH. Allen JerkensMiddletown Stables7 furlongs1:22.27$107,300II1993Birdonthewire4Craig PerretPhilip M. SerpeRobert Kaufman7 furlongs1:20.93$112,800II1992Rubiano5Julie KroneFlint S. SchulhoferCentennial Farms7 furlongs1:21.70$118,200II1991Mr. Nasty4Angel Cordero Jr.Guadalupe PreciadoHidden Lane Farm7 furlongs1:21.60$113,000II1990Quick Call6Jorge F. ChavezSidney J. Watters Jr.Lynda B. Stokes7 furlongs1:21.57$87,800II1989Sewickley4Randy RomeroFlint S. Schulhofer Robert S. Evans 7 furlongs1:24.00$113,200II1988King's Swan8Angel Cordero Jr.Richard E. Dutrow Sr.Alvin Akman7 furlongs1:22.40$168,300II1987Groovy 4Angel Cordero Jr.Jose A. MartinLone Star Stable7 furlongs1:22.40$114,000II1986Groovy 3Jose A. SantosJose A. MartinJohn A. Ballis7 furlongs1:21.60$111,600II1985Track Barron4Angel Cordero Jr.LeRoy JolleyPeter M. Brant7 furlongs1:22.00$134,850II1984Believe The Queen4Jorge VelasquezH. Allen JerkensBohemia Stable7 furlongs1:22.40$117,800II19834Donald MacBethReynaldo H. NoblesRobert E. Brennan7 furlongs1:22.20$86,700II1982Rise Jim6Angel Cordero Jr.J. Joseph O'SheaWilliam H. Grinold7 furlongs1:23.80$54,700II1981Rise Jim5Angel Cordero Jr.J. Joseph O'SheaWilliam H. Grinold7 furlongs1:21.20$54,700III1980Plugged Nickle3Jeffrey FellThomas J. KellyJohn M. Schiff7 furlongs1:22.20$55,100 1979Cox's Ridge5Eddie MapleJoseph B. CanteyLoblolly Stable7 furlongs1:22.20$42,500 Tom Fool Handicap1978J. O. Tobin4Jeffrey FellLaz Barrera George A. Pope Jr. 7 furlongs1:20.80$43,250 1977Mexican General4Craig PerretJ. Bowes BondMrs. Albert H. Lowenthal7 furlongs1:22.00$37,675 At Aqueduct1976El Pitirre4Angel Cordero Jr.Laz BarreraEnrique Ubarri7 furlongs1:24.40$44,250 1975Kinsman Hope5John RuaneH. Allen JerkensHobeau Farm7 furlongs1:21.40$44,875

Notes:

§ Ran as an entry

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

References