A Healthy Runaway Lute to Take on Fall Highweight Field

A healthy Runaway Lute is set to battle with a wide-open field for Thanksgiving spoils in the $200,000 Fall Highweight Handicap (G3) going six furlongs Nov. 22 at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Owned by Harold Lerner and Nehoc Stables, the 4-year-old, New York-bred son of Midnight Lute  enters the Fall Highweight following a victory in the Oct. 20 Hudson Handicap at Belmont Park. Set to make only his fourth start of the year due to a number of minor setbacks, and first against open company since finishing sixth in the grade 1 Hopeful at Saratoga Race Course as a juvenile, he is now in good health, according to trainer Gary Contessa.

"He's in good condition now following his win in the Hudson," Contessa said. "He's always been a bit difficult to keep sound, but thankfully he's been healthy as of recent."

Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano, who has been aboard for three of Runaway Lute's four career victories, is slated to ride, and Contessa is confident in the rider's ability to work out the best trip.

"He's a very versatile horse and can adjust to any scenario as the race develops," Contessa added. "Javier knows this horse well and has ridden him a number of times, so I'm confident in whatever spot he wants to put him in coming out the gate."

Runaway Lute will depart from post 5 carrying 126 pounds.

Trainer Jason Servis has entered a pair of talented runners with Command Post for owners Gary and Mary West and Life in Shambles for owner Ara Aprahamian.

A 4-year-old Harlan's Holiday colt, Command Post kicked off his 2018 campaign in March, when he was beaten by a head in an optional-claiming race at Gulfstream Park. Returning to win the same condition in April, he most recently ran third Sept. 11 at Parx Racing in an optional-claimer. Command Post will leave from the rail with Irad Ortiz Jr.

Life In Shambles, a 7-year-old, hard-nosed veteran on the NYRA circuit with nine wins from 40 career starts, was claimed by Servis in July. Since joining his new outfit, he finished fifth in an Aug. 19 optional-claiming race at Saratoga and followed that up with an optional-claiming win Sept. 29 at Belmont. With Jose Lezcano in the irons, Life in Shambles will break from post 8.

Heartwood ships in from Kentucky to make his 24th career start for trainer James Chapman, who also co-owns alongside Stuart Tsujimoto.

A 4-year-old son of Tapit , Heartwood has two wins from 11 starts this year and an impressive four wins from 10 starts at the six-furlong distance.

Running a respectable fourth behind multiple graded stakes winners Promises Fulfilled, Whitmore, and Limousine Liberal in the Oct. 5 Stoll Keenan Ogden Phoenix Stakes (G2) at Keeneland, Heartwood followed up with a second-place finish last out over a sloppy track in the Nov. 1 Bet on Sunshine Stakes at Churchill Downs.

"I think he's gotten better with age," Chapman said. "He's a horse that loves the cold weather, and he's coming into this race well. I thought he ran really well in the Phoenix, it's just that he got outkicked by some better horses. His last race at Churchill, I thought he came back strong. The winner must have really loved the off track, but those two separated themselves from the rest of the field."

With meet-leading rider Manny Franco aboard, Heartwood will leave from post 9 with the co-highweight of 131 pounds assigned.

Entries: Fall Highweight H. (G3)

Aqueduct Racetrack, Thursday, November 22, 2018, Race 8

• Grade III
• 6f
• Dirt
• $200,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 3:20 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Command Post (KY)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	126	Jason Servis	6/1
2	2Lewisfield (MD)	Jevian Toledo	131	Jeff C. Runco	8/1
3	3Mesotherm (KY)	Alex Cintron	127	Lacey Gaudet	8/1
4	4Celtic Chaos (NY)	Eric Cancel	128	Brad H. Cox	9/2
5	5Runaway Lute (NY)	Javier Castellano	126	Gary C. Contessa	7/2
6	6Win With Pride (KY)	Dylan Davis	127	Chris J. Englehart	15/1
7	7Always Sunshine (FL)	Jose L. Ortiz	130	Edward T. Allard	6/1
8	8Life in Shambles (KY)	Jose Lezcano	127	Jason Servis	8/1
9	9Heartwood (KY)	Manuel Franco	131	James K. Chapman	4/1