Aqueduct notes: Toboggan rematch possible in Tom Fool

Barbara D. Livingston

Head Heart Hoof (left) and Johannesburg Smile finished one-two in the Grade 3 Toboggan Stakes.

Head Heart Hoof and Johannesburg Smile, the one-two finishers from Saturday’s Grade 3 Toboggan Stakes, could meet again in the Grade 3, $200,000 Tom Fool on March 2.

Head Heart Hoof has won his last two starts at six furlongs over the inner track, and the Tom Fool would be the last sprint stakes run under those conditions this winter.

Johannesburg Smile, who hadn’t sprinted in four years, ran a credible second in the Toboggan, which may encourage his connections to try six furlongs again.

“We were concerned about the one post working against us a little bit,” Todd Pletcher, the trainer of Johannesburg Smile, said. “Ultimately, it did. The winner sat a very good trip, rated a little bit, and that allowed him to hold us off.”

Head Heart Hoof earned a 96 Beyer Speed Figure.

Milestone wins possible on Thursday

There will be no racing at Aqueduct on Wednesday, the first of six cards sliced from the schedule due to a horse shortage as well as safety concerns.

When racing resumes Thursday, two trainers will be aiming for milestone victories.

Gary Contessa moved within one victory of 2,000 when Glowing Ember won Sunday’s sixth race. Contessa, who will become the 89th trainer to hit the 2,000-win plateau, has entered seven horses in five races on Thursday.

Dominic Galluscio recorded his 998th career victory in Sunday’s nightcap with Nine Cracks. Galluscio has four horses entered in three races on Thursday’s card.

Also Thursday, there will be a pick-six carryover of $36,873 after the wager went unhit Sunday.