October 14, 2024

Life in Shambles mows down Fall Highweight rivals

Life in Shambles earned his first stakes victory in the Fall Highweight (G3) at Aqueduct (c) Adam Coglianese Photography

Life in Shambles rallied to the lead in deep stretch and prevailed by nearly a length in the $200,000 Fall Highweight (G3) on Aqueduct’s Thanksgiving Day program. Claimed for $62,500 by Ara Aprahamian three starts previously, the seven-year-old gelding completed the six-furlong distance in 1:12.07 under a 127-pound impost.

Heartwood left the starting gate as the co-131 pound highweight and dueled with Always Sunshine through early splits of :22.69 and :46.27 before forging his way to a short lead in the final eighth of a mile. But the 2-1 second choice could not withstand the late rally of Life in Shambles, who stalked the pace about four-wide before closing boldly in the latter stages beneath Irad Ortiz Jr.

“I got a perfect trip,” Ortiz said. “He broke good. He put me in a good position, and he was right where I wanted when I asked him. Turning for home, he just ran really well.”

Trained by Jason Servis, Life in Shambles left the starting gate as the 6-1 fifth choice among six runners. Heartwood held second by three-quarters of a length over the 6-1 Always Sunshine. It was another 3 ¼ lengths back to Celtic Chaos, who was followed by 7-5 favorite Runaway Lute and Win with Pride.

After placing in six stakes, Life in Shambles earned his first stakes tally and the son of Broken Vow has now earned $726,034 from a 41-10-7-4 record. The gray was bred in Kentucky by Pin Oak Stud and hails from the stakes-placed Anabaa mare Life.

Life in Shambles was exiting a victory over allowance/optional claiming rivals at Belmont Park on September 29 in which he was entered for the $62,500 claiming price.

“We expected him to run good and he did,” assistant trainer Henry Argueta said. “He’s a warrior. He’s been there before. I think his experience helped him a lot.”