Greeley and Ben beats crowd at the wire in Fall Highweight

Greeley and Ben has brought many people joy as a career winner of 23 races and on Saturday the 8-year-old gave his latest connections a thrill when he won a four-way battle to the wire in the Grade 3, $175,000 Fall Highweight Handicap at Aqueduct.

It was the first stakes victory for Faith Wilson, one of seven trainers Greeley and Ben has had since launching his career in 2016. Wilson saddled her first winner in 2021.

“It’s just amazing,” she told the New York Racing Association. “I wish my kids were here for this, but it’s a far drive from New Jersey every day that me and my husband take.”

Greeley and Ben ($16.80) won the Fall Highweight by a neck over favorite and 132-pound co-highweight Runninsonofagun. It was a head back in third to Factor It In and another head in fourth to Jaxon Traveler. Greeley and Ben carried 130 pounds Saturday.

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The Fall Highweight was the first graded win for Greeley and Ben. The multiple stakes winner has now earned $882,698 through 39 career starts. He is a son of Greeley’s Conquest who races for Darryl Abramowitz.

Greeley and Ben was content to settle off the pace set by Bezos, racing along the rail as that one took the field through an opening quarter in 22.90 seconds and a half-mile in 46.67 in the six-furlong race for 3-year-olds and up. Jaxon Traveler moved to the fore in the stretch, but was soon joined by multiple rivals and the quartet carried on to the wire. Greeley and Ben prevailed from the inside, covering the distance on a fast track in 1:11.95.

“My main thing was I wanted to get him to break well and stay close,” winning rider Manny Franco told NYRA. “I just hugged the rail the whole way around. In the stretch, the horse on the lead opened up the rail and my horse just went through and did the rest. He fought hard.”

The Fall Highweight was one of three stakes on the card. Astronaut won the Grade 2 Red Smith, while Bat Flip accounted for the $120,000 Central Park.

The Central Park was for 2-year-olds at a mile on the outer turf. The course was listed as firm.

Bat Flip ($11.20) sat just off the pace set by Dr. Settle’s Dream, who ran the opening quarter in 23.57 seconds and the half-mile in 47.15. Bat Flip took over through six furlongs in 1:11.04 and went on to cover the distance in 1:34.30.

Jose Ortiz was aboard the winner for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Bat Flip won by 1 1/2 lengths over Dandy Handyman. It was another head back in third to favorite General Jim.

Bat Flip is a son of Good Magic who races for Harrell Ventures and Starlight Racing.

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