The $200,000 Fall Highweight Handicap (G3) is the feature at Aqueduct. (Photo credit: Bigstock.com)
The Thanksgiving Day feature at Aqueduct is the 104th running of the $200,000 Fall Highweight Handicap (G3) with a field of nine entered and seven expected to start with Stallwalkin’ Dude the 2-1 morning line favorite.
The David Jacobson trainee will carry a high weight of 134 pounds, spotting his rivals between four ands nine pounds.
Both Schivarelli and Seymourdini are expected to scratch.
Stallwalkin’ Dude is coming off a career top Beyer Speed Figure in his runner up finish in the Bold Ruler Handicap (G3) in his last start at Belmont Park going seven furlongs. The seven=year-old has won 19 of his 58 career starts and has earned over $1.5 million. He was beaten a neck in this race last year by Heavens Runway.
He reunites with jockey Joe Bravo and will break from the three post with 134 pounds.
The one to catch is Green Gratto (8-1), who set the early fractions in the Bold Ruler but ran out of gas in a sixth-place finish.
Kendrick Carmouche is in the irons and will tote 139 pounds, breaking from the six post.
The co-feature on Thursday is $150,000 Winter Memories at 1 1/16 miles on turf. The race drew a dozen along with two main track only-entrants led by Rymska, who is the 3-1 morning line favorite for trainer Chad Brown.
The filly comes into the race off a win in the Commonwealth Oaks (G3) on Sept. 30 which was her first start since winning the Sweet Chant (G3) at Gulfstream Park in February.
First post on Turkey Day is 11:50am ET. Over the four-day holiday weekend Aqueduct offers up 10 stakes.
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Let’s head out to The Big A for Thursday’s featured race of the day:
Aqueduct Race 8 The Fall Highweight Hcp G3 (Post time 3:20 ET)
#6 Green Gratto 8-1
#4 Threefiveindia 5-1
#3 Stallwalkin’ Dude 2-1
#8 Ready for Rye 10-1
Analysis: Green Gratto set a sharp early pace in the Bold Ruler ‘Cap (G3) last out at Belmont Park going seven furlongs and weakened to finish sixth at 55-1, beaten 4 1/2 lengths. he caught a racing strip that was kind to outside stalkers and closers that day. The seven-year-old owns solid early and mid pace numbers and when loose is capable of big efforts. He won the Carter ‘Cap (G1) back in April in gate to wire fashion and won the Toboggan (G3) in January. He owns a good edge in early and mid pace numbers and could be tough to catch if able to shake loose early and the cut back to six furlongs suits.
Threefiveindia exits a fourth-place finish in the Phoenix (G2) at Keeneland. The colt tracked the early pace, attempted to split rivals in the stretch and got caught in tight and flattened out late. The third-place finisher Limousine Liberal came back to win the Bet On Sunshine at Churchill Downs on Nov. 18. He has not won a stake but has been competitive and a clean trip can put him in the mix here at a fair price for the Chad Brown barn.
Stallwalkin’ Dude came with a seven-wide run to take over the lead and then could not hold off the winner late in a runner up finish in the Bold Ruler last out. beaten 3/4 of a length. The seven-year-old has made 58 starts with 19 wins and he earned a career top speed fig in his last outing, while the track bias that day helped him out a bit. He cuts back to six furlongs but should get a decent pace to run at. His price may end up on the short side.
Wagering
WIN: #6 to win at 4-1 or better.
EX: 4,6 / 3,4,6,8
TRI: 4,6 / 3,4,6,8 / 3,4,6,7,8
