Stallwalkin' Dude looks to extend run in G3 Fall Highweight; Gio Ponti field set

by Brian Bohl and Najja Thompson

Stallwalkin' Dude will look to end his campaign on a positive note as he headlines a field of nine in the Fall Highweight Handicap for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs on Thanksgiving Day at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Stallwalkin' Dude, carrying the high wight of 134 pounds, earned his first graded stakes win in an impressive off-the-pace win by 1 ½ lengths in the Grade 3 Bold Ruler on October 29 at Belmont Park. Owned by Head of Plaines Partners and trained by David Jacobson, Stallwalkin' Dude has finished in the money in his last four starts - all stakes - including a runner-up finish in which he was one length behind Joking in the Grade 1 Vosburgh on October 1.

Jacobson, who also co-owns the 6-year-old bay gelding, saw his trainee win the Tale of the Cat on August 12 at Saratoga Race Course before finishing a game third in the Grade 1 Priority One Jets Forego on August 27 at the Spa.

Stallwalkin' Dude will now look for his third win from four career starts at the Big A in drawing the outside post with Irad Ortiz, Jr.

Chalk Racing's Ready for Rye will look for his first win in 2016, drawing post 3 with Luis Saez aboard.

Ready for Rye has finished in the money in five of his seven starts this year for trainer Tom Albertrani, including runner-up finishes in the Grade 3 Commonwealth and the Diablo.

The 4-year-old, who is 5-4-5 in 17 career starts, came in fifth last out in the Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational, has posted one win and a second-place finish in his last three starts at the Fall Highweight distance.

All Star Red, for Carl Lizza Racing Stables, has finished off the board just twice in his last seven starts for trainer Rudy Rodriguez. The 4-year-old chestnut colt has registered plus-90 Beyer Speed Figures in six of his last seven starts and won his only previous start at Aqueduct against allowance company on April 13.

All Star Red rallied late to finish fifth in his last graded stakes start in the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap on July 30 at Saratoga and was the runner-up in his graded stakes debut in the Grade 3 Maryland Handicap on May 21 at Pimlico.

"I've been happy with him, but I know this race will be very, very tough," Rodriguez said. "There are a lot of horses in there. He deserves a chance. He never embarrasses himself. He always tries. It's a plus for the horse; to run where he trains and be on his home course."

Javier Castellano is set to ride from post 7.

Rodriguez's other entry, Heaven's Runway, will make his first stakes appearance in eight starts in departing post 2 with jockey Junior Alvarado.

Two-time Breeders' Cup participant The Great War will make his Aqueduct debut from post 5 for trainer Wesley Ward.

Rounding out the field are Angry Moon, who will return to stakes company after winning back-to-back allowance optional claimers, from post 6; Weekend Hideaway, third in the Vosburgh before coming in second in the Hudson Handicap on October 22, has the inside position; Spartiatis, who is 1-0-1 in his last three starts in allowance races, for trainer Leon Blusiewicz, will leave out of post 4.

The inaugural running of the $125,000 Gio Ponti for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on the turf will be run as Race 6 on the Thanksgiving program.

Entering for trainer Chad Brown and Woodford Racing is Catapult. A son of Kitten's Joy, Catapult has one win in an optional-claimer at Saratoga from four starts this year. Most recently, he ran third in the English Channel on October 23 at Belmont, picking up a career best 95 Beyer Speed Figure.

With Castellano aboard, the pair will leave from post 6.

Christophe Clement, the trainer of multiple stakes-winning and Eclipse Turf Award-winner Gio Ponti, will saddle Italian Charm.

A son of Gio Ponti, Italian Charm, for Green Hills Farm, enters with three consecutive victories after breaking his maiden in his second career start on February 14 at Tampa Bay Downs.

With Jose Ortiz in the irons, Italian Charm will leave from post 2.

Treadway Racing's Strike Midnight, who finished second in the English Channel returns for trainer Leah Gyarmati, drawing post 3 with Irad Ortiz, Jr. aboard.

Rounding out the field is Pirellone, a son of Gio Ponti for trainer Ralph Nicks and PHS Racing, who enters off an allowance win on October 29 at Belmont; Toughest 'Ombre, for Hickory Plains and trainer Tom Albertrani, will look to rebound off a fifth-place finish in the English Channel; and Hunter O'Riley from post 1. Summer Revolution and Voluntario are main-track only entries.

The $100,000 Furlough stakes for juvenile fillies will be run as race 5. Entered to run are Eloquent Riddle, Come Dancing, Whistle Song, Star Studded, Alice B Winkle and Yorkiepoo Princess.