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Stallwalkin' Dude looks to close year on high note in Sunday's Gravesend; Undefeated Filibustin headlines NYSS Fifth Avenue

by Najja Thompson/Brian Bohl

 Stallwalkin' Dude will look to gain class relief in headlining a field of eight in the 58th running of the $100,000 Gravesend for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs on the inner dirt track on Sunday at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Owned by Head of Plains Partners and trainer David Jacobson, Stallwalkin' Dude has posted three consecutive triple digit Beyer Speed Figures in graded stakes starts, including a runner-up finish last out in falling to Heaven's Runway by a neck in the Grade 3 Fall Highweight on November 24 at the Big A.

Stallwalkin' Dude, who has eight more wins than the next-closest entry in the field, has a graded stakes victory to his credit this year, capturing the Grade 3 Bold Ruler on October 29 at Belmont Park. The 6-year-old bay gelding has been successful at the Gravesend distance, finishing second by one length to Joking in the Grade 1 Vosburgh on October 1 at Belmont.

With a 16-6-7 career record in 47 starts and more than $1 million in earnings, Stallwalkin' Dude will be returning to the inner dirt track for the first time since a third-place finish in the Grade 3 Tom Fool on March 12. Irad Ortiz, Jr. will have the call from post 2.

Trainer Rudy Rodriguez will saddle a troika of experienced runners, including All Star Red, who finished sixth last out in the Fall Highweight. Owned by Carl Lizza Racing Stables, the 4-year-old is seeking his first win in eight starts, though he racked up three runner-up finishes in that span. Jose Lezcano will ride from post 7.

Summer Revolution will return to stakes company for Rodriguez after a second-place finish in an optional claimer on November 4. The 3-year-old, who is 2-1-0 in five starts, will make his inner track debut looking to build on a campaign in which posted a fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 King's Bishop on August 27 at Saratoga. Jockey Rajiv Maragh will depart from the rail.

Drama King has won his last two starts on the inner dirt, including the Hollie Hughes on February 15. The 4-year-old, owned by Michael Dubb and Bethlehem Stables, will have the services of jockey Angel Arroyo from post 3.

Loki's Vengeance will be facing open company after winning the NYSS Thunder Rumble on November 25. Trained by Michael Hushion, the 5-year-old will exit post 4 with Jose Ortiz in the irons.

Rounding out the field are Green Gratto, who will be making his 50th career start, for trainer Gaston Grant out of post 5;  Life in Shambles, who will make the jump to stakes competition for the first time in eight starts for Hall of Famer trainer Steve Asmussen out of post 8; and Spring to the Sky, where the Bruce Brown trainee and 2013 Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint participant will aim for his first stakes win since the 2015 Laurel Dash out of post 6.

In the $150,000 New York Stallion Series Fifth Avenue division for juvenile fillies going six furlongs on the inner dirt, carded as Race 4 on Sunday's card, undefeated Filibustin will try to keep her perfect record intact facing a six-horse field.

Filibustin, trained by Gregory Sacco for owner Alan Cook, is the daughter of Bustin Stones, who impressively broke her maiden in her first career start on September 4 at Monmouth Park winning by 8 ¼-lengths. In her subsequent race she bested a field of 12 on October 2 at Belmont in the Joseph A. Gimma before capturing the Key Cents on the main track at Aqueduct on November 25.

Drawing the rail, Filibustin will depart with Jose Lezcano aboard.

Making her first against winners following an eye-catching debut on November 18 in which she won by 4 ½-lengths, Catcher in Sky enter for owners Mary and Chester Romans.

Trained by Linda Rice, the daughter of Noonmark will leave from post 2 with Jose Ortiz aboard.

Toni Tools will be looking to extend her win streak to three for trainer Todd Pletcher and owners St. Elias Stable and MeB Racing Stables. Most recently, the daughter of Roaring Feber has picked up back-back victories, breaking her maiden on October 6 at Belmont followed by a one-length victory in an allowance race on November 23 at Aqueduct.

Set to leave from post 6, Manuel Franco will be aboard.

Rounding out the field is Gonna Be Morgan for trainer Debra Breed and owner Carl Buhr shipping in from Finger Lakes; Passporttovictory for trainer Tom Morley and the Elkstone Group; and Bliss to You for Russell Cash and Joseph Birnbaum.