Highweight True Direction Takes Fall Highweight

True Direction and Javier Castellano wore down Crossing Point in the final yard to post the win Thanksgiving Day in the Fall Highweight (gr. III) at Aqueduct.

Crossing Point made the lead in the six-furlong race and tore through quick fractions in :21.69, :44.50, and :56.57. True Direction was always close, as were Well Fancied and Out of Fashion early. While the others gave up the chase, True Direction hung tough, finally wearing down the leader just a few strides before the wire

True Direction, carrying highweight of 134 pounds, ran the six panels in 1:09.62.

Though the highweight, True Direction paid $10, $5, and $5.40. Crossing Point, ridden by Ryan Fogelsonger, returned $6.20 and $6.30, and longshot Gold I. D. closed for third and paid $20.80.

The winner is owned by Moreton Binn and trained by Carlos Morales. It was his fifth win in eight lifetime starts.

"I told Mr. (Moreton) Binn that I thought we could win, but I was scared that something could happen to the horse," Morales said. "He told me to go ahead. I'm always scared to run a horse, even with five more pounds. He's a wonderful horse; he always tries. He's a good horse but he's not a really healthy horse. We have to take it easy with him. The first time we run him back close, he's going to be really good because he will be in good shape."

Morales said he would consider one of two Dec. 26 races for True Direction -- Aqueduct's grade III, $100,000 Gravesend Handicap at six furlongs, or the grade I Malibu at Santa Anita at seven furlongs.

(Chart, Equibase)