Fall Highweight might be next for Chateau

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Chateau, winner of the Grade 3 Tom Fool Handicap in March at Aqueduct, could target the Grade 3, $200,000 Fall Highweight Handicap for his next start, trainer Rob Atras said Wednesday.

After winning the Tom Fool, Chateau finished fourth in the Grade 1 Carter, second in the Grade 3 Runhappy, and third in the Lite the Fuse at Pimlico before getting a break.

Chateau came off a two-month layoff with a last-place finish in an allowance at Parx Racing.

Atras said that jockey Kendrick Carmouche told him Chateau didn’t get a hold of the track at Parx.

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Chateau’s Tom Fool was one of four stakes wins for Atras during the Aqueduct 2020-21 winter meet. American Power won the Grade 3 Toboggan and the Caixa Eletronica. On Sept. 2, he finished last to Aloha West in an optional-claiming race from which he was claimed for $100,000. The claim was voided by the stewards for soundness reasons. Atras said he disagreed with that void, but added he’s happy to have the horse back. He should run at some point during the Aqueduct fall meet.

Meanwhile, Atras said that Maracuja, who upset the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks, is a month or so into a freshening on the farm. She could resume light training on the farm in December and return to Atras in January. Atras said Maracuja could make her 4-year-old debut in early spring of 2022.

◗ Code of Honor, second to Independence Hall in the Fayette Stakes at Keeneland, was credited with a half-mile work in 49 seconds Wednesday morning at Belmont. Trainer Shug McGaughey said he is still considering the Grade 1 Clark Handicap on Nov. 26 at Churchill Downs for Code of Honor, but mentioned he would be nominated to the Grade 1 Cigar Mile, to be run Dec. 4.