Aqueduct: Agave Kiss may stretch out for Comely

Though his focus remains the Grade 1 sprint races at Saratoga for Agave Kiss, trainer Rudy Rodriguez said Monday he will consider stretching out the undefeated New York-bred filly to a mile in the Grade 3, $250,000 Comely Stakes at Aqueduct on April 7.

Agave Kiss made it 4 for 4 on Saturday with another front-running score, this time by three lengths in the Grade 3, $150,000 Cicada Stakes. It was her first graded victory. Agave Kiss, a daughter of Lion Heart, is owned by Flying Zee Stables.

Rodriguez had been saying all along that his major target for the summer was the Grade 1 Prioress. The race had typically been run in early July at Belmont Park. This year, however, the New York Racing Association moved the race to Aug. 4 at Saratoga as a prep for the seven-furlong Test, also a Grade 1, run on Aug. 25.

Rodriguez said the schedule change does play a role in what he may decide to do with Agave Kiss moving forward. He would like to have a fresh filly heading into the summer.

“We got to change our plans,” he said.

Rodriguez said the dearth of six-furlong races in the 3-year-old filly division also may force him to stretch Agave Kiss out in distance.

Rodriguez said Agave Kiss came out of her Cicada victory – her first race in eight weeks – in good shape.

“She’s bouncing around the barn,” Rodriguez said Monday. “We’ll see what kind of horses show up. If it’s wide open maybe we’ll take a chance. If she can do it, it opens another door.”

Agave Kiss won the Cicada by three lengths over Corderosa. She ran six furlongs in 1:11.76 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 90.

Corderosa, who finished second in the Cicada, could also be a candidate for the Comely.