Bold Journey Last-to-First Noses Rivals to Capture G3 Tom Fool

Bold Journey, a seven-year-old Hard Spun gelding, rallied from last to nip Full Moon Madness by a nose in the Grade 3 Tom Fool Stakes at Aqueduct, covering the seven-furlong heat in 1:10.70 on Feb. 28. The surprising last-to-first effort ended a dozen-start winless run for Bold Journey and produced a $2 win payoff of $23.34.

Breslau exploded from the inside post and set the early tone, carving out an opening quarter in 22.40 seconds over the good and harrowed main track while 2-5 favorite One Nine Hundred pressed from second position. Bold Journey was away slowly and found himself trailing the field by five or more lengths early as the pace quickened.

Full Moon Madness, last year’s Tom Fool winner, doggedly chased the speedy One Nine Hundred from the top of the lane and enjoyed a brief moment in front in the late stages, but Bold Journey rallied powerfully down the outside with his ears pinned to swallow up the leader at the wire. It was three-quarter-lengths back to One Nine Hundred in third, with Acoustic Ave fourth and Breslau finishing fifth.

The field of five entered the gate with a clear short-priced favorite in One Nine Hundred and the 14-1 Breslau leaving the stalls crisply from the inside. Bold Journey had been sent off at double-digit odds, referenced at 10-1 by connections, and the upset returned a tidy payoff to backers.

Leana Willaford, identified as Mott’s Belmont Park-based assistant, shrugged off the post-time price and underscored the horse’s quality. “They kind of counted him out at 10-1, which I thought was kind of silly. He’s a super cool horse, and we’re happy and proud to have him in the barn,” she said.

Jockey Cancel described the race plan and how the pace set up the rally. “I knew they were going to be going pretty quick up there. I just was hoping for the pace to give way at the end, which it did. It actually went to our favor and we got the victory. I'm really pleased and happy with it,” Cancel said.

Bold Journey was bred in the Empire State by Fred W. Hertrich III and John D. Fielding from the Super Saver mare Polly Freeze. The neck-and-neck Tom Fool victory not only returns the veteran to the winner’s circle but also gives Mott’s barn a graded-stakes result to shape spring placement decisions for the gelding.