Captain Serious on Toes for Fall Highweight

 

Named after Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews, Captain Serious looks to stuff his competition in the $300,000 Fall Highweight Handicap (gr. III) Nov. 27 at Aqueduct Racetrack.

 

The Thanksgiving-day feature drew a field of 11 for the six-furlong contest that is topped by Strapping Groom, the starting highweight at 134 pounds.

 

Captain Serious will tote 123 pounds in the Fall Highweight and will be wearing blinkers for the first time in his career.

 

"His last race was OK," trainer Mike Hushion said of the New York-bred's fourth-place finish in the restricted Hudson Handicap Oct. 18 at Belmont Park. "It was a little disappointing because he came out so big and bright. We think he might be leaving a little in the tank, so hopefully he'll be more focused. It's a guessing game as always."

 

On Nov. 21, Captain Serious turned in a bullet work wearing the blinkers, covering four furlongs over Belmont's training track in a handy :47 2/5, the fastest of 70 workers at that distance.

 

"His work the other day was great," said Hushion, who saddled Sunrise Smarty to victory in the 2011 Fall Highweight.

 

Captain Serious, a gelded son of Successful Appeal   who was unraced at 2, won the first three starts to begin his career this year for owner Barry K. Schwartz including the Mike Lee Stakes by three lengths May 31. But he dropped his next five starts, including a second-place finish in the Dwyer Stakes (gr. III) July 5 and a third-place finish in the Amsterdam Stakes (gr. II) three weeks later.

 

"He's the most robust, raciest looking horse in the barn," Hushion said. "My thoughts aren't with the competition; I'm just hoping to get a little better Caption Serious showing up."

 

Jockey Jose Ortiz, who has ridden Captain Serious in all of his eight career starts, has the mount again and will break from post 3.

 

Strapping Groom, who won the 2013 Forego Stakes (gr. I), has run just twice this year, taking the Tom Fool Handicap (gr. III) March 1 at Aqueduct before finishing fifth in the April 5 Carter Handicap (gr. I). The 7-year-old son of Johannesburg, also entered in the $200,000 Fabulous Strike Stakes at Penn National Nov. 26, drew post 8 for the Fall Highweight under jockey Javier Castellano.

 

Strapping Groom is coupled in the wagering with Salutos Amigos, who is assigned 133 pounds and breaks from post 6 with Cornelio Velasquez. In his last start, Salutos Amigos finished seventh, beaten three lengths, in the Xpressbet Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) Nov. 1 at Santa Anita Park.

 

Tightend Touchdown, who has done most of his racing lately on grass or synthetics, returns to dirt for the Fall Highweight carrying 131 pounds and jockey Joe Bravo, while breaking from the rail. The 5-year-old son of Pure Precision is also entered in the Fabulous Strike.

 

In his most recent start, Tightend Touchdown finished sixth, beaten 1 1/2 lengths, in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (gr. IT) at Santa Anita Nov. 1.

 

The speedy River Rocks, also entered in the Fabulous Strike, drew post 9 and was assigned 131 pounds.

 

In his previous start, the 4-year-old Western Pride   colt weakened to fourth as the even-money favorite in the Bold Ruler Handicap (gr. III) Oct. 25 at Belmont. The race was won by Salutos Amigos.