Michael Dubb's Chateau made his graded stakes debut a winning one March 6, surging home with plenty left in the tank to take the $200,000 Tom Fool Handicap (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack.
The veteran 6-year-old posted a gate-to-wire 3 1/2-length score in the Tom Fool, a six-furlong event for 4-year-olds and up.
Chateau, who had made just two previous stakes appearances through his first 32 starts, broke quickly under meet-leading rider Kendrick Carmouche from post 3, leading the six-horse field through swift opening fractions of :22.81 and :46.18 over the fast main track.
Building on his advantage approaching the turn, the Flat Out gelding was never seriously challenged in the stretch, besting a charging Wendell Fong to finish in 1:12.10.
Chateau, a 1 1/2-length victor against allowance optional claimers at six furlongs a start prior, again led at every point of call for trainer Rob Atras. He notched consecutive wins for the first time since 2018 when he won three in a row at the claiming and allowance levels.
"That was emotional," Atras said. "He came running out of the gate and put away the other speed horse (Happy Farm), who is no slouch. Kendrick broke him so sharp. We had a plan; obviously it was no secret. He put away that horse and was controlling the race and got a little separation. When they turned for home, it didn't look like anyone was coming and Kendrick still had some horse. It was an amazing performance.
"We've always liked him and Kendrick has really figured out how to ride him. He's been a big help."
Atras, who took over the training duties of the former Jason Servis trainee last year, has seen Chateau go 2-2-2 in his last six starts. The gelding may face even more challenging competition April 3 in the $300,000 Carter Handicap (G1).
"It might be pushing it for distance, but off this race anything is possible," Atras said. "We'll see how he comes out of the race and go from there."
Sent off at odds of 7-2, Chatea ($9.60) improved his earnings to $477,769.
"When you read into it and there's a lot of speed, nine times out of ten, it doesn't happen that way. I knew my horse had to be forwardly placed," Carmouche said. "I figured him out last time. This time I knew Rob had given him enough time in between races where he could carry his speed a little longer.
Carmouche has been aboard for the gelding's last two victories.
Gold Square's Wendell Fong, who gave trainer Natalia Lynch her first career win in the Fire Plug Stakes in January at Laurel Park, outkicked Speed Pass by 3 1/4 lengths for second.
"It set up perfect. He did everything he was supposed to do and our goal was to see if he could handle the track and he did his job today," said Lynch, who expects Wendell Fong to return in the Carter. "It's just really good to see him compete at this level again."
Favored Pete's Play Call finished fourth, with Happy Farm and Share the Ride completing the order of finish.
Bred in Kentucky by Preston Stables out of the With Distinction mare Distinct Sparkle, Helium is the first graded winner by his dam, whose recent foals include a yearling colt by Hoppertunity and an unraced 2-year-old Constitution filly named Heartyconstitution. The mare was bred to Take Charge Indy for 2021.
Video: Tom Fool H. (G3)
