Skyler's Scramjet gets first graded stakes win in Tom Fool

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Now that his mentality is catching up to his physicality, Skyler’s Scramjet is starting to assert himself in the sprint division.

Skyler’s Scramjet made a successful graded stakes debut, recording a 1 1/2-length victory over the late-running Do Share in Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Tom Fool Handicap at Aqueduct.

It was third consecutive victory and fourth from his last five starts for Skyler’s Scramjet dating back to last September.

“He’s a big strapping fella, but he was a little timid,” said Michelle Nevin, who trains Skyler’s Scramjet for SJB Stable and Marcello Micozzi. “I think he just now has gotten his confidence with the riders. He’s not the kind of horse you can be real rough with, he gets timid.”

Under Trevor McCarthy, Skyler’s Scramjet dueled outside of Green Gratto – last year’s Grade 1 Carter winner - through a quarter-mile in 22.47 seconds and a half-mile in 46.55 seconds. He assumed command approaching the quarter pole, opened up a 4 1/2-length lead by midstretch and won handily despite the late-running efforts of Do Share.

Sklyer’s Scramjet, a 4-year-old gelding by Creative Cause, covered the six furlongs in 1:11.38 and returned $7.10 as the 5-2 favorite.

“I knew what Green Gratto wanted to do, I wasn’t going to go out of my way to chase him or do anything like that,” McCarthy said. “I got him to relax. When he made that move and opened up a couple turning for home I was like ‘Man, they’re really going to have to catch him.' ”
Do Share rallied from last to get second by three lengths over Great Stuff. Life in Shambles, Classy Class, Spartiatis, Threefiveindia, Candid Desire, and Green Gratto completed the order of finish.

Nevin chose to go with Skyler’s Scramjet over My Boy Tate - winner of five straight - in the Tom Fool because she felt this race was too close back to My Boy Tate’s last victory in the Hollie Hughes. My Boy Tate will most likely make his next start in the Grade 1 Carter here April 7.