Susie Raisher Photo

Heaven's Runway records first graded stakes win in upset of G3 Fall Highweight; Catapult lands first stakes victory in Gio Ponti; Yorkiepoo Princess wires Furlough field

by NYRA Press Office

Heaven's Runway rallied from the far outside and overtook favorite Stallwalkin' Dude in deep stretch for his first career graded stakes win, capturing the Grade 3, $200,000 Fall Highweight on Thanksgiving Day at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Owned by Michael Dubb and Michael Imperio, Heaven's Runway, who went off at 32-1, hit the wire in 1:10.19 in the six-furlong sprint for his first graded stakes win in six starts.

Heaven's Runway, trained by Rudy Rodriguez, stayed off The Great War's early fractions of 22.60 seconds for a quarter mile and 45.45 for a half on the main track. Stallwalkin' Dude, the 4-5 top choice in carrying the high weight of 134 pounds, outkicked The Great War at the top of the stretch to take the lead. But jockey Junior Alvarado urged Heaven's Runway to gain ground in the final furlong and defeat Stallwalkin' Dude by a neck.

"I just followed instructions," Alvarado said. "Rudy was very, very confident with this horse. In the paddock he told me he claimed this horse exactly for this race. I took his word because he's a very good trainer. He only told me, 'save ground, stay on the rail as long as you can. If you find a way inside then go for it if not tip out.'

"I just made sure to do exactly what he told me to do and it worked out," he added. "We got the trip and we got the win. I knew they were going to come back I just had to gauge if I would have enough kick in the end. There were some very nice horses in the race. I couldn't really get excited until we passed the wire."

The 6-year-old Heaven's Runway, who was carrying 123 pounds, posted his first win since the 2015 Hockessin at Delaware Park, spanning 13 starts. It was the first time in three starts he ran on dirt since Rodriguez claimed him.

"When I claimed this horse, believe it or not, I claimed him for this race," Rodriguez said. "I knew he was going to be OK for this race and he didn't prove me wrong. It made the owners happy today."

Heaven's Runway paid $66.50 on a $2 win wager and increased his career earnings to $537,925.

Stallwalkin' Dude finished in the money for a fifth consecutive start for trainer David Jacobson, who previously trained Heaven's Runway.

Ready for Rye, for trainer Tom Albertrani, came in third. Green Gratto, The Great War, All Star Red, Spartiatis and Angry Moon completed the order of finish. Weekend Hideaway was scratched.

Earlier on the card, Woodford Racing's Catapult delivered as the 3-2 favorite in the inaugural running of $125,000 Gio Ponti for 3-year-olds over 1 1/16 miles on the turf, capturing his first career stakes with a 1 ¼-length victory over Strike Charmer.

Under Javier Castellano, Catapult settled in second to the outside of the pacesetting Pirellone, who led the field of six through an opening quarter-mile in 24.59 seconds, and a half in 50.69. The Kitten's Joy colt drew alongside the leader in the far turn and seized the lead at the top of the stretch, holding off a challenge from Strike Midnight to complete the route in 1:44.75 over good turf.

Catapult, trained by Chad Brown, returned $5.10 for a $2 win wager.

"He likes to run and is happy the way he goes," said Castellano. "I didn't see much speed in the race, so I wanted to fall in position like he did today. I'm very proud. He's a pro; everything he does, he does the right way. He never gets tired, he always keeps going and carries speed well."

Hunter O'Riley, Toughest 'Ombre, Italian Charm and Pirellone completed the order of finish. Summer Revolution and Voluntario, main-track-only entrants, were scratched.

Two races later, Yorkiepoo Princess wired a field of five in the second running of the $100,000 Furlough for 2-year-old fillies.

Breaking alertly from the rail with Irad Ortiz, Jr. aboard, Yorkiepoo Princess quickly established herself on the lead, setting fractions of 23.53 seconds for the opening quarter-mile with a half going in 46.90.

At the quarter-pole, Eloquent Riddle, 1-5 post time favorite, who stalked from mid-pack, made her run toward the leader but it was too late, as Yorkiepoo Princess opened up again late in the stretch to win by 2 ¾ lengths. She completed the six-furlong distance in 1:11.62. Alice B Winkle was third, followed by Star Studded and Whistle Stop.

Returning $9.20 for a $2 win wager, the daughter of Kantharos was initially purchased for $8,000 as a two-year-old in training at the Ocala Breeders' Sale for trainer Ed Barker and owner Danny Chen.

"She's just a really nice filly," said Barker. "We didn't pay much money for her, but she's got so much talent. There's more to her too, I can tell you. She's just got so much talent and we hope we can go on to bigger and better things later on in the spring. For now, we're going to play it by ear. I'm elated that she won this race."