Photo:

Sophie Shore / Eclipse Sportswire

Jay Em Ess Stable’s Kentucky homebred Full Moon Madness utilized a prominent trip under Kendrick Carmouche to win Saturday’s Grade 3, $175,000 Tom Fool Stakes, a six-furlong sprint for older horses at Aqueduct.

Trained by Michelle Nevin, the 5-year-old Into Mischief gelding is out of dual Grade 1-winning Indian Charlie mare By the Moon, who captured the 2014 Frizette and 2017 Ballerina on the New York Racing Association circuit for these same connections. His second dam, Grade 1-placed New York-bred By the Light, won nine stakes for Jay Em Ess Stable, who purchased her as a yearling for $190,000.

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Full Moon Madness was off a step slow last out in the seven-furlong, listed Toboggan on Feb. 1 at Aqueduct but broke alertly from post 3 Saturday. He dueled with Manny Franco-piloted Top Gunner through splits of 22.76 and 46.37 seconds over the fast main track with Surveillance stalking to their outside in third position.

The pacesetters battled through the turn with Carmouche asking his charge for more to put away his rival turning for home as Surveillance launched his bid in front of rallying Bold Journey. A determined Full Moon Madness turned back the charge of Surveillance in the final furlong and dug in gamely to score by 1 1/4 lengths with a final time of 1:11.10.

It was 4 1/2 lengths back to Top Gunner in third with Runninsonofagun, who was off a step slow from the inside post, completing the superfecta. Bold Journey and Ridgewood Runner rounded out the order of finish.

Nevin credited a sharp start and a hustling ride from Carmouche for the victory.

“A good, clean break today was great,” Nevin said. “They were quick, but Kendrick looked very comfortable and very happy where he was sitting. Manny looked like he was having to work a little bit, but Kendrick was just poised there.

“He’s a quirky horse. Kendrick got him to break good today, and that’s the key.”

Carmouche, who has 3,977 career victories, concurred with the winning conditioner.

“He broke better. I wanted to be forward with him. He put me into a good spot. That’s all I had to do was ride him home from there,” Carmouche said. “I thought Michelle had done a good job with getting him back to the races and his winning ways.”

Nevin indicated Full Moon Madness could come under consideration for the seven-furlong, $300,000 Carter (G2) on April 5 at Aqueduct.

“He has run well going seven. Is it taking him to his limits? Maybe. We’ll see how he comes out of this,” Nevin said.

Full Moon Madness, who was second in the 2022 Nashua (G3) in his lone previous graded attempt, banked $96,250 in victory while improving his record to 12: 4-2-3. He returned $8 for a $2 win bet.