Caixa Electronica Pounces On Favorite in Fall Highweight
Caixa Eletronica pounced on pace-setting favorite This Ones for Phil in the stretch and went on to a four-length victory in Thursday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Fall Highweight Handicap, Aqueduct Racetrack’s traditional Thanksgiving Day feature.
Toting 133 pounds, including jockey Javier Castellano, Caixa Eletronica tracked This Ones for Phil through early fractions of 22.57 and 44.84 seconds. Moving into striking position as the field of five turned for home, he drew alongside the even-money choice in midstretch and pulled away to the wire.
His winning time of 1:08.69 was the fastest running of the six-furlong race since 1991, and just one-fifth of a second off the stakes record of 1:08 2/5 held jointly by Hi Tex, who carried 130 pounds in 1952, and Ariel Lad, who toted 125 pounds in 1944.
“My horse was more in the bridle today, and he responded so well,” said Castellano. “[Trainer Todd Pletcher] put the horse in the right spot at the right time and he’s put me on a lot of nice horses, especially this horse. We’ve had a lot of good success.”
It was the fourth victory in 12 starts this year for Caixa Eletronica – a 7-year-old son of longtime Big A stalwart Arromanches – who also boasts victories in Aqueduct’s Rise Jim overnight stakes, the Grade 2, $1 million Charles Town Classic and the Grade 2 True North Handicap at Belmont Park in 2012.
“I told Javier, ‘The horse is so versatile, he can do so much; keep him in the game. Do not let This Ones for Phil get away. If he walks the dog and goes 23 and 46 and we come in second, I will be furious’,” said winning owner Mike Repole. “Javier said, ‘I’ll do what you want.’ When he broke, he was right there; we went 22 and 44 [seconds] and at the top of the stretch, once he got close, it was just a matter of time.”
The 2-1 second choice, Caixa Eletronica returned $6.40 for a $2 win bet and collected $90,000. Overall, he is 19-8-11 from 60 career starts and has earned $1,598,205.
Runner-up This Ones for Phil finished 4 ¼ lengths in front of Mine Over Matter, who was followed by Small Town Talk and Willy Beamin. Poseidon’s Warrior was scratched.