Cherokee Country wins Big A’s Fall Highweight

NEW YORK — Cherokee Country stormed home at 12-1 to beat Greenspring by a half length in the $110,000 Fall Highweight Handicap, the Thanksgiving Day feature at Aqueduct.

Eighth in the early stages, Cherokee Country and jockey Jose Lezcano swung wide in the lane to uncork the rally.

“He had plenty of gas in the tank,” Lezcano said.

Trained by Ramon Preciado at Philadelphia Park, Cherokee Country got his 11th win in 25 starts. The 5-year-old ran the six furlongs in 1:09.29 over the fast track.

Cherokee Country paid $26.20, $10.40 and $8.40. Greenspring, another closer, came on for second, returning $7.50 and $6. Hatfield, the pacesetter in the field and the longest price at 43-1, paid $13.40 to show.