Aqueduct: Capt. Candyman Can wheels right back for Tom Fool Handicap

The last time Capt. Candyman Can raced in New York, he was elevated from second to first by the stewards in the Grade 1 King’s Bishop in Saratoga. That was nearly three years ago.

Capt. Candyman Can is eyeing another Grade 1 sprint in New York – the Carter on April 7 – and is using Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Tom Fool Handicap as a stepping-stone.

Capt. Candyman Can, who was scheduled to arrive in New York on Tuesday following a van ride from Florida, is running in the Tom Fool on two weeks’ rest. On Feb. 18, Capt. Candyman Can finished third to Force Freeze in the Gulfstream Park Sprint Championship.

“I can’t wait six weeks between races,” said Wilkes, noting the time between the Gulfstream race and the Carter. “He’s not a very good work horse. I can’t get him fit enough off of works. I’ve got to go out of the box.”

Though Capt. Candyman Can is winless in four starts at six furlongs, Wilkes said he’s not convinced the horse can’t be effective at that distance. He’s been stakes placed twice at that distance.

Wilkes said Edgar Prado would ride Capt. Candyman Can in the Tom Fool. Capt. Candyman Can was assigned 117 pounds for the race.

Caleb’s Posse, the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner, is assigned high weight of 122 pounds. He was expected to arrive Tuesday on a FedEx flight after vanning from Oaklawn Park to Memphis, according to trainer Donnie Von Hemel.

Others expected for the race are Calibrachoa, Justin Phillip, and Emcee.