Majestic Dunhill points to either Fall Highweight or Cigar Mile
Trainer George Weaver said R.A. Hill Stable's Majestic Dunhill, who made the grade last out in the Grade 3 Bold Ruler Handicap at Belmont Park, will make his next start at Aqueduct in either the six-furlong Fall Highweight Handicap (G3) or the Cigar Mile (G1).
The 5-year-old Majesticperfection gelding was game to the wire to win the seven-furlong Bold Ruler by a head over Share the Ride on a muddy Belmont main track. Weaver said he will take a close look at how both the Fall Highweight and Cigar Mile fields shape up before deciding.
"We'll see how both races come up. I'm sure the Cigar Mile will have some heavyweights in there," said Weaver. "Majestic Dunhill is a gelding, so we're not looking to establish stud value with him. We're trying to make as much money as possible and spot him as best we can. The way the two fields stack up will factor heavily in our decision. He's a fun horse to have."
Majestic Dunhill, who earned a career-best 100 Beyer winning the Bold Ruler, boasts a record of 21: 5-4-4 with purse earnings of $373,214.
Weaver said he also may have a contender for the Cigar Mile undercard with Brereton C. Jones' Dollar Mountain in the $150,000 Demoiselle (G2) at nine furlongs on the main track.
The dark bay daughter of Upstart garnered a 64 Beyer Speed Figure when graduating by 5 1/2-lengths at second asking on Oct. 16 in an off-the-turf 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight contested on a sloppy and sealed Belmont strip.
"Dollar Mountain broke her maiden nicely, and she could be in consideration for the Demoiselle," said Weaver.
Jim and Susan Hill's Lead Guitar, a 4-year-old daughter of Maclean's Music bred in New York by Windylea Farm, will look to run her win streak to four in the $100,000 Autumn Days, an open six-furlong turf sprint for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up slated for Nov. 29 at Aqueduct.
The talented bay launched her career in June 2019 under Weaver's care, including a third-out graduation on the Saratoga turf under Luis Saez.
After making the first four starts of her 4-year-old campaign for trainer Eddie Kenneally, including a restricted Aug. 20 optional-claiming sprint score on the Saratoga turf, Lead Guitar returned to Weaver's care and captured an open optional-claiming turf sprint on the front end on Sept. 20 at Belmont ahead of a rallying score in the open Floral Park on Oct. 17 over six furlongs of soft turf at Belmont.
Weaver said the filly, who sports a record of 10: 5-2-1 with purse earnings of $235,678, likes to win races.
"She's a New York-bred and she has a lot of talent, and that helps her knock out some wins," said Weaver. "She's consistent in open company races too, and she's developed into a really nice turf sprinter."
R.A. Hill Stable and Gatsas Stables' Vekoma was retired from racing and will stand stud at Spendthrift Farm in 2021. The Candy Ride chestnut spiked a temperature in the buildup to what was to be his final career start in the Breeders' Cup Sprint at Keeneland.
"He was training great. We had some feet trouble with him over the summer and we got him going right and he ended up developing a fever when it was time to go over there and run," said Weaver. "It was disappointing, but we're so proud of the horse and he's going on to his second career. We're all really happy for him."
A six-time winner from eight starts with more than $1.2 million in purse earnings, Vekoma graduated on debut in September 2018 at Belmont Park and followed with a score in the 2018 Grade 3 Nashua at Aqueduct.
The popular chestnut added the 2019 Blue Grass (G2) to his ledger at Keeneland ahead of finishing 12th in the Kentucky Derby. Vekoma was perfect in three starts this season, including Grade 1 wins at Belmont in the Carter Handicap in June and the Met Mile in July.
"He provided us with many memories. The Blue Grass win was special but to come back and win the Carter and Met Mile, those are big races too," said Weaver.