Nevin riding high with Skyler's Scramjet, My Boy Tate

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Between Skyler’s Scramjet and My Boy Tate, trainer Michelle Nevin has two male sprinters who have combined to win eight consecutive races including three stakes.

Keeping them separated will be a nice problem throughout the spring and summer.

Skyler’s Scramjet won his first stakes Saturday, scoring a 1 1/2-length victory in the Grade 3, $200,000 Tom Fool Handicap at Aqueduct that was more impressive than the final margin might suggest.

Skyler’s Scramjet hounded the speedy Green Gratto through a half-mile in 46.63 seconds, opened up a four-length lead in midstretch before settling for the score over a late-running Do Share.

Skyler’s Scramjet ran six furlongs in 1:11.38 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 103. Skyler’s Scramjet is now 4 for 4 at six furlongs. There is not a six-furlong stakes for older male sprinters in New York until the $150,000 Runhappy (formerly the Diablo) at Belmont Park on May 12.

So, if Nevin wants to keep Sklyer’s Scramjet at six furlongs, she will likely have to look out of town.

It is unlikely Nevin would run Skyler’s Scramjet seven furlongs in the Grade 1 Carter on April 7 in part because she has My Boy Tate penciled in for that spot.

My Boy Tate, a New York-bred gelding by Boys at Tosconova, has won five straight races including two restricted stakes in his two most recent outings. Nevin said the timing of the Tom Fool didn’t work for My Boy Tate, but the Carter will give him seven weeks between starts in what will undoubtedly be his toughest race to date.

The Carter is undoubtedly the next start for Do Share, who rallied from last to be second in the Tom Fool in his first race since winning the Gravesend on Dec. 23.

Two magnificent claims

While horsemen descended on Ocala, Fla., on Sunday in search of future stakes winners, trainers Danny Gargan and David Jacobson found their most recent ones at the claim box.

Divine Miss Grey, winner of Saturday’s $150,000 Heavenly Prize Invitational for Gargan, and Harlan Punch, who dominate the $150,000 Stymie Stakes by seven lengths for Jacobson, were both acquired via claims. Since being claimed, both horses have won six of 10 starts. Harlan Punch has earned $342,900 while Divine Miss Grey has banked $338,100.

“He was the best claim at Saratoga last year,” Gargan, Divine Miss Grey's trainer, said of Harlan Punch. “David’s done a great job with him and we’ve been lucky enough to have a great claim. It’s good to see horses coming out of claiming races win stakes in back-to-back races at Aqueduct. That helps the game a lot.”

Divine Miss Grey was claimed for $16,000 in March 2017 by Luis Stritsman and trainer Luis Ramirez. Stritsman, who raced as Corms Racing, sent the horse to Gargan in New York.

Divine Miss Grey has won three straight including including the Interborough Stakes in January and the Heavenly Prize. Divine Miss Grey’s weapon is her speed, which she used to record a 6 3/4-length victory in the Heavenly Prize. She ran a mile in 1:38.13 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 96.

Gargan said he will consider either the Grade 1, $300,000 Madison at Keeneland on April 7 or the Grade 3, $150,000 Distaff Handicap at Aqueduct on April 6 for Divine Miss Grey’s next start. Both races are at seven furlongs.

Jacobson claimed Harlan Punch for $40,000 last August at Saratoga. On Saturday, he won for the second time in six days, getting a sweet stalking trip under Dylan Davis and drawing away to win the Stymie by seven. He ran a mile in 1:38.03 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 105.

Harlan Punch’s weapons are his versatility and durability. On Feb. 15, he won an allowance going 1 1/4 miles. His last two victories have come in races run at a one-turn mile.

Jacobson said Harlan Punch doesn’t like to train and is better off racing frequently. Jacobson said he may wheel Harlan Punch back in Saturday’s $100,000 Harrison E. Johnson Memorial going 1 1/8 miles at Laurel Park. Harlan Punch is also eligible for the $90,000 Mr. Sinatra here March 31, part of the New York Claiming Championships.

“We may just stay in New York,” Jacobson told NYRA publicity Sunday. “He obviously loves it here and has been running well, so we'll keep all options on the table."