Ten entered in Fall Highweight, but Pletcher trio has
options
The 98th running of the Grade 3, $100,000
Fall Highweight Handicap
at Aqueduct Racetrack has drawn 10 sprinters who will be among those putting on
a few extra pounds on Thanksgiving Day.
Trainer Rudy Rodriguez, who earned his first graded stakes win in the 2010
Fall Highweight with Endless Circle, will be aiming for a repeat in this year’s
edition with Flat Bold. Claimed for $75,000 on behalf of Michael Dubb at
Saratoga Race Course, the five-year-old Flatter gelding has made two subsequent
starts for his new connections, finishing third to Rule by Night in the Duck
Dance overnight stakes at Belmont Park on October 9 and fifth in the Grade 3
Bold Ruler behind Calibrachoa.
With Jose Lezcano aboard, Flat Bold will leave from post position 5 under 129
pounds and was listed at 8-1 on the morning line.
General Maximus, a sharp winner of the Hudson on New York Showcase Day at
Belmont Park, will be making just his fifth start of 2011 in the Fall Highweight.
After earning a second and a pair of fourth-place finishes in optional claimers
earlier this year, the four-year-old son of Freud had an undescended testicle
removed over the summer and returned to post a repeat victory in the six-furlong
Hudson.
“He ran great in his comeback race,” said John Terranova, who trains General
Maximus for Goldmark Farm. “We’ll see how he fares in open stakes company.”
Corey Nakatani will ride General Maximus, who will carry 130 pounds from post
position 7 and is 5-1 on the morning line.
Making his stakes debut Thursday will be the Linda Rice-owned and trained
Frazil, a winner of two straight starter handicaps. The five-year-old gelding
has won five of his 11 starts at the Big A, and earned a lifetime best 106 Beyer
over the main track on April 7.
“We thought we might do something a little more ambitious with him,” said
Rice of Frazil, who is 7-3-1 from 12 starts this year with earnings of $154,800.
“He’s a fun horse to have in the barn.”
Alan Garcia will be aboard Frazil, who drew the rail as the 126-pound
lightweight in the field and was listed at 15-1 on the morning line.
Trainer Todd Pletcher has entered a trio of familiar faces from the Repole
Stable in Calibrachoa, Driven by Success and Caixa Eletronica, but has not
determined which, if any, will run.
“Driven by Success is going to run (at Aqueduct Sunday in the Adirondack
Holme) and is still possible for the Fall Highweight,” said
Pletcher of the six-year-old, who ended up finishing last of six in that overnight stakes
for New York-breds.
“We are taking a look with Caixa Eletronica and Calibrachoa while also
considering the (Grade 1) Cigar Mile (on Saturday) with both. We will make a
decision after entries are drawn (Wednesday).”
The entry was 6-5 on the morning line, with Calibrachoa drawing the outside
under 135 pounds, Caixa Eletronica drawing post position 3 under 134 pounds and
Driven by Success leaving from post position 7 under 130 pounds.
Sunrise Smarty will be shooting for his first stakes victory Thursday, having
most recently finished sixth in the Frank J. DeFrancis Memorial Dash at Laurel
Park on October 22. The four-year-old Smarty Jones colt is 3-0-1 from six starts
at the Fall Highweight distance, including an optional claimer at Saratoga and
an allowance victory at the Big A in February.
“He looks great, he’s acting great, his flesh is great, so why not?” said
Mike Hushion, who trains Sunrise Smarty for West Point Thoroughbreds.
At 5-1 on the morning line, Sunrise Smarty will leave from post position 4,
carrying 130 pounds including Ramon Dominguez.
Rounding out the field, from post position 2 out, are Parent’s Honor, who
enters off a pair of sprint victories at Parx Racing; Escrow Kid, a recent
optional claiming winner at Charles Town, and Nathan’s H Q, second in a
restricted stakes at Delaware Park last time out.
Also at Aqueduct on Thanksgiving, the $60,000
Capades
Stakes at 1 1/16 grassy miles has attracted a field of 11 sophomore fillies.
Prominent contenders include the Christophe Clement-trained Race to Urga,
Puzzling from the Shug McGaughey barn and the uncoupled Tom Albertrani pair of
Loure and Style Squad, while Marion Ravenwood is the lone main-track-only
entrant.