Mesa Sunrise, making his graded stakes debut for trainer Tony Dutrow, is the morning line favorite among nine sprinters entered in the $100,000 Fall Highweight Handicap (gr. III), the Thanksgiving Day main event at Aqueduct Nov. 25.
Brushwood Stable's Mesa Sunrise is coming off a pair of optional claiming victories at Parx Racing and Delaware Park. The 4-year-old Sky Mesa colt was third in his 2010 debut at Saratoga Race Course in August.
Mesa Sunrise, to be ridden by Ramon Dominguez, breaks from post 2 in the Fall Highweight, which is the eighth race but will be run at 2:42 p.m. EST due to the early Thanksgiving first post at 11:25 a.m. The favorite will carry 127 pounds, two fewer than the three co-high weights in the field -- Wall Street Wonder (8-1), Go Go Shoot (7-2) and Endless Circle (4-1).
Wall Street Wonder, a 4-year-old son of City Place, last visited the winner’s circle in the spring when he capped a three-race win streak over the Big A’s inner track with a victory in the Toboggan (gr. III). Given the summer off, he returned to action in September in the Icecapade at Monmouth Park, finishing fourth, and then was eighth after vying for the early lead in the grade I Vosburgh at Belmont Park Oct. 2.
“He struggled with the heat this summer and it took him a while to round back into form,” said John Terranova, who trains Wall Street Wonder for Stetson Stables. “He’s been doing well since his last race, and I can’t wait to get him back over to Aqueduct. Last year it was like flipping a switch, and I hope he responds the same way.”
Channing Hill rides Wall Street Wonder from post 5.
Go Go Shoot, seventh in last year’s Fall Highweight, comes into the race off a front-running optional claiming victory at Belmont Park, his first in four starts this year. Third in the West Virginia Legislature Chairman’s Cup at Mountaineer and third in the Decathalon at Monmouth Park, the 5-year-old Songandaprayer gelding’s only poor performance of 2010 came when 11th in the Smile Sprint Handicap (gr. II) at Calder Race Course in July.
Go Go Shoot leaves from post 7 with John Velazquez aboard.
Endless Circle has fashioned a solid record as a 6-year-old, winning seven of his 12 starts including three of his last four appearances at Aqueduct. Trained by Rudy Rodriguez for Vincent Scuderi, Endless Circle will be making his first graded stakes appearance.
He won the John Morrissey and the Easy N Dirty Stakes for New York-breds and finished sixth as the favorite in the Hudson on New York Showcase Day. Endless Circle’s seven victories is tops on the NYRA circuit, two more than his nearest rival.
Edgar Prado has the mount on Endless Circle, who drew post 4 as the co-third choice.
Also at 4-1 is Monarch Stable's Wildcat Frankie, seeking his first stakes win for trainer David Fawkes. The 3-year-old Wildcat Heir gelding was a close second in Monmouth's Rutgers Stakes over a good track Nov. 6. He's won three of eight lifetime races with three seconds and will break from the rail for Javier Castellano.
$100,00 Fall Highweight Handicap (gr. III, Race 8, 2:42 p.m.), 3 & Up, 6 Furlongs
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Wildcat Frankie (FL), J Castellano, 126, D Fawkes
2. Mesa Sunrise (KY), R A Dominguez, 127, A W Dutrow
3. a-Mitigation (KY), A O Solis, 125, G P Gullo
4. Endless Circle (NY), E S Prado, 129, R R Rodriguez
5. Wall Street Wonder (FL), C Hill, 129, J P Terranova, II
6. a-Jack On the Rocks (MD), E Castro, 126, G P Gullo
7. Go Go Shoot (FL), J R Velazquez, 129, T A Pletcher
8. Emma's Posse (KY), C H Velasquez, 126, D G Galluscio
9. Todd Got Even (KY), J Lezcano, 128, S J Volk
a-Funky Munky Stable-owned entry.
Wall Street Wonder
Adam Coglianese