Green Gratto waiting for Carter

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – One horse whose absence was conspicuous from the entry box for Saturday’s Tom Fool Handicap is Green Gratto, the New Jersey-bred gelding who won the Fall Highweight and Gravesend last fall.

Trainer and part-owner Gaston Grant said he will train Green Gratto up to the Grade 1 Carter at Aqueduct on April 9. Green Gratto finished second to Dads Caps in last year’s Carter at odds of 53-1.

Since winning the Gravesend on Dec. 26, Green Gratto has finished third in the Grade 3 Toboggan on Jan. 30 and fourth in the Grade 3 General George at Laurel on Feb. 15.

“I’m just forcing him to take a little breather,” Grant said Wednesday. “But he breezed yesterday, and he breezed pretty, pretty nice.”

On Tuesday, Green Gratto worked a half-mile in 48.59 seconds over Aqueduct’s inner track. It was the fastest of 10 moves at the distance.

Also awaiting the Carter is Sassicaia, who won the Toboggan in his most recent start.