Oaklawn: Caleb's Posse headed to New York for Tom Fool

HOT SPRINGS, Ark.– Caleb’s Posse is heading back to New York. Last year, Saratoga was the site of one of his biggest wins, the Grade 1 King’s Bishop over comebacking champion Uncle Mo, and next month, he is scheduled to return to the state for the Grade 3, $200,000 Tom Fool at Aqueduct, said his trainer, Donnie Von Hemel.

Caleb’s Posse, who has been working at Oaklawn Park, will be making his first start since winning the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Churchill Downs on Nov. 5. Rajiv Maragh, who was aboard for the Dirt Mile as well as the King’s Bishop, has the mount for the Tom Fool, said Von Hemel. The six-furlong race will be run on Aqueduct’s inner track March 3.

“It looked like a good spot to see if we want to come back in the Carter five weeks later,” said Von Hemel.

The Grade 1, $400,000 Carter is at seven furlongs, over Aqueduct’s main track April 7.

Caleb’s Posse raced twice in New York last year. In addition to his King’s Bishop score he also won the Grade 2 Amsterdam, also at Saratoga. Caleb’s Posse was the runner-up in the voting for 3-year-old champion of 2011. He was also a finalist for champion sprinter.

Caleb’s Posse won two other stakes last year, both at two turns during the first half of the season, the Grade 3 Ohio Derby and the $100,000 Smarty Jones at Oaklawn.

a“We will be interested in mostly one-turn races this year,” said Von Hemel, who trains Caleb’s Posse for McNeill Stables and Cheyenne Stables.