Fall Highweight – E

A wide-open field of 10 awaits Thursday’s $100,000 Fall Highweight H. (G3) at
Aqueduct. Speedster GO GO SHOOT (Songandaprayer) has a decent chance to lead
this field at every call and must win be considered a win threat for trainer
Bruce Levine. Two back, the Florida-bred ran top sprint star Fabulous Strike
(Smart Strike) close to the wire, registering a whopping 113 BRIS Speed rating,
and that rival would be odds-on against this cast. John Velazquez adds to the
appeal.

We’ve always liked AH DAY (Malibu Moon), who bagged the Toboggan H. (G3) over
this inner oval in March for conditioner King T. Leathurbury. The gelded bay
received a nice tune-up for this when a recording a non-threatening fifth in the
Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash S. (G1) last time, and he could find a lot of
tiring horses at which to run down late. Sheldon Russell will guide the top win
player, even if we are not fond of the 14 pounds he will add here.

Budding sprint player SEAN AVERY (Cherokee Run) has put together a nice
string of races since returning from a long break for Michael Hushion. The
talented four-year-old earned a big BRIS Speed figure (107) for his latest
attempt, a win on this oval, and this is not the strongest fields ever
assembled, so he surely has a shot beneath Edgar Prado.

FORMIDABLE (Sky Mesa) will only add four pounds off his last start and we
like him as an exotics player for Allen Jerkens. The inconsistent bay is capable
on his best day and worked a sharp five furlongs in advance of this. The stalker
could get a piece beneath Rajiv Maragh.

RILEY TUCKER (Harlan’s Holiday) is a very fast horse that might revert to
rating tactics on the cut back in trip for Steve Asmussen. The once-promising
dark bay has kept solid company in his nine-race season, but he’s unplaced in
his last four. THE ROUNDHOUSE (Fusaichi Pegasus) has just one win since March
and has yet to prove that he can be considered a realistic threat to win this
event. Coupled with Go Go Shoot, the Todd Pletcher charge does have a nice turn
of foot in him, and while he usually doesn’t sustain it for long, he could reach
the top-three with a well-timed ride.

CHEROKEE COUNTRY (Yonaguska) has posted big BRIS Speed figs in his recent
races, but his class level is in question. DRIFT KING (Concorde’s Tune) has good
early speed and has no choice but to go from the rail, but we don’t see him
surviving late on this day. HATFIELD (Proud Citizen) has looked good in two
sprint wins on the lawn at Laurel, but he lacks the resume and the recent
competition to be endorsed. GREENSPRING (Orientate) has toppled only allowance
fields to date, and the price on the colt (5-1 morning line) is not enticing to
us.