Gutierrez graduates aboard Do Share in Tom Fool Handicap

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - On his final day as an apprentice jockey, Reylu Gutierrez collected his first graded stakes victory by guiding Do Share to a demonstrative 6 1/2-length victory in Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Tom Fool Handicap at Aqueduct.

Gutierrez was the beneficiary of an insane three-horse speed duel, which had Skyler’s Scramjet, Syndergaard, and Bavaro knocking heads through a quarter in 21.92 seconds and a half-mile in 44.93 seconds.

Do Share, who had finished second to Skyler’s Scramjet in this race last year, was in the back of the pack, between Life in Shambles and Fully Vested.

Do Share advanced into fourth around the turn, tipped four wide in the stretch and motored past the tiring trio to power home a much-the-best winner. Life in Shambles rallied to get second by a half-length over Bavaro. Skyler’s Scramjet, Syndergaard, Bon Raison, and Fully Vested completed the order of finish.

Do Share is trained by Mike Maker, who put Gutierrez on his first career stakes winner last April with Susie Bee in the Powder Break Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

“I got to get a great Christmas present for Mr. Maker and his team,” Gutierrez said.

Gutierrez might want to get a gift for some of his fellow riders, too, for setting a wicked early pace. Skyler’s Scramjet, under Dylan Davis, Syndergaard, under John Velazquez, and Bavaro, under Junior Alvarado, set the fastest pace of the winter over the main track, setting it up for a horse to come from off the pace.

“I felt like there was going to be a lot of pace to chase,” Gutierrez said. “I just knew if I had the chance to come get them, I’d be right there. Talk about a horse exploding from the quarter pole to the wire. I couldn’t keep up with his head he was going so fast.”

Do Share, a 6-year-old gelding by Candy Ride owned by Three Diamonds Farm, covered the six furlongs in 1:08.77 and returned $12.80 as the fourth choice.

For Gutierrez, this was a great start to what figures to be a difficult transition from an apprentice to a journeyman jockey. Gutierrez said he celebrated after his last mount as an apprentice, Double the Bet (who finished seventh), because now he doesn’t have to reduce to make weight.

“I don’t want to do 113 [pounds] anymore,” Gutierrez said. “If I can ride this strong all the time at 119 I’m really excited what’s to come.”