Little Vic Wins G3 Tom Fool Handicap

It was a second stakes winner in an hour at Aqueduct on Saturday when Little Vic (4c Practical Joke x Rock and Glory, by Rock Hard Ten) won the Grade III Tom Fool Handicap for his first graded stakes victory.

The six-furlong dirt race saw the Juan Avila trainee chase the leader in third for the first half of the race before sweeping past in the turn. He had his head in front as they entered upper stretch and in the final furlong started pulling away to win by 1 ½ lengths for his second career stakes victory.

Owned by Victoria’s Ranch, Little Vic has finished in the top three in nine of his 13 starts for over $318,000 in earnings.

“This horse is a real athlete. When you see a horse like him develop after each and every race, it’s just special. It’s a feeling that I can’t describe in words. I’m just really, really happy,” said owner Victor Martinez.

The Stride Sales and Syndicates bred is out of the multiple stakes winning Rock and Glory. A daughter of Grade II winner Brooke’s Halo, Rock and Glory is also a half-sister to multiple stakes placed Gorgeous Ginny.

Practical Joke’s 12 stakes winners, five graded stakes winners, and 22 stakes performers from his first two Northern Hemisphere-bred crops is second best among all third crop sires. The stallion had an exceptional day on Saturday with three stakes winners – including horses who hopped on the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby trail.