11/28/21

   4  AQU     The Fall Highweight Hcp (GIII)

         $200.000   3yo&Up    6f  Dirt     Handicap Weights

Sunday Stakes action here in NY and we look at the field for The Fall Highweight Hcp (GIII), which should be renamed the Fall Sprint Stakes here at HRP, because weight isn’t changed in this setting.  Regardless, speed is on the menu as the six furlong sprint stakes is full of that.  I’m taking Mojave Rattler as the top selection here today… I know, he’s done most of his damage on the grass, and he may not be the same horse that won the BC Mile (GI) back in ’19, but he’s won on the main track and I think his class will see him through in this one.   Foolish Peasure has been hot of late, and is another that warrants consideration.  He just missed at MNR in a graded race, and came back to win an overnight stakes at CD with a nice purse, so give him a serious look when you head for the windows.    

Here’s The Field –  

He has a pair of wins and the same runner-up finishes in the ’21 season, and just missed last out vs. high-end Alw types at KEE.  Tired to be sixth in the Vosburgh (GII) a BEL in his only graded stakes effort, so he has to improve if he wants to bring home the bacon today.

Won the Louisville Thoroughbred for his only seasonal victory, but has been a runner-up in three other races, while putting some decent cash in the bank.  A nice second in the WV Governors (GIII) at MNR, so he has speed and looks like a horse to contend with in this one. 

No wins this year but comes into this off of back to back seconds, both sprints and both vs. high end types.  He’s struggled vs graded horses this year, and needs to find some old form if he wants to cash a check today. 

His only seasonal win came back in Feb when he won the El Camino at GG while on the TC Trail.  That seems like a long time ago as he’s switched barns since that and has tired in every start since.  He was fifth last out vs OptAlw types at PRX, so he obviously needs to find some old magic. 

This one has been on the board in five of six starts, but has been facing softer.  A nice third in the Boyes Stakes at PID two back, and he certainly likes the sprint scene.  He may come with some odds as well, so keep an eye on him for the upset. 

Second half of the Angelos Stable entry and he got back to the winning ways last out, taking down OptAlw types at PRX, drawing off to win by two in that one.  He’s another that has been facing softer of late, but shows speed and could light it up if they aren’t careful. 

Had his four-race win streak snapped last out when he beat one in the Bet On Sunshine at CD.  He just never got on track that day, but has been working well since, so maybe it was a bounce and he comes back in a big way today.  He’s shown some real speed, so….

His lone ’21 victory came back in Jan taking the Tropical Turf (GIII) at GP going a flat mile.  He’s done most of his best work on the grass, but he’s a classy ol’ rascal that has races like the Vigor (GIII) and BC Mile (GI) on his resume’.  He may not be as good as he once was, but does he need to be in this one?  

  Was tagged out of a $45.000 claimer at MNR before that last out race, where he was ninth in the Bold Ruler (GIII) at BEL.  He had won four in a row in Chester and has an eleven for nineteen record… but this is the major leagues and I just don’t know if he has the skills. 

COZMAN   8 / 2           WILLIE’S GREEN CARD    8 / 6 / 1  

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES