'Island' gets better post

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - The Grade 3, $100,000 Fall Highweight has a new look and a new favorite after being scrapped from Thursday's card at Aqueduct and redrawn for Sunday.

Nine of the original 11 horses scheduled to start in the six-furlong race were entered back, the major exception being Bwana Charlie, who showed signs of lethargy after not eating well upon his arrival from Kentucky. Bwana Charlie, the original morning-line favorite, had been scratched Thursday before the race was postponed when jockeys refused to ride the final seven races because of poor track conditions.

The Fall Highweight tops a 10-race card that also includes the Montauk Handicap for New York-bred fillies and mares. First post for the final card on the main track is noon Eastern. Racing moves to the inner track on Wednesday.

The biggest benefactor at the re-draw was probably Friendly Island, who originally drew the rail but will now break from post 6. From the rail, Friendly Island would most likely have been forced to use his speed. Now, he may be able to work out a stalking trip.

"I might prefer being a little farther off the rail," said trainer Todd Pletcher, referring to Friendly Island's victory in the Hudson Handicap from post 1. "But when he won the Hudson I was worried about it and it worked out okay.''

Friendly Island will have a new rider as Stewart Elliott takes over from John Velazquez, who will be in California to ride a few stakes for Pletcher.

Medallist, the Withers and Dwyer winner, will likely be favored. A speedy 3-year-old son of Touch Gold, Medallist has not run since finishing seventh in the Grade 1 King's Bishop on Aug. 28. He suffered a quarter crack training up to the Jerome, but has been working steadily towards this.

Medallist, the starting highweight at 134 pounds, will break from the outside post in the nine-horse field. He originally had post 7.

Primary Suspect has won 3 of 5 starts and will make his first start in a graded event. In his only prior stakes try, Primary Suspect finished second behind Abbondanza in the swiftly run Gallant Bob Handicap.

Uncle Camie, trained by Mike Hushion, will break from the rail and will likely show speed. Papua, Uncle Camie's uncoupled stablemate, finished second in this race last year. Kiaran McLaughlin sends out the uncoupled entry of Thunder Touch and Eavesdropper. Max's Buddy completes the field.