Aqueduct: Lion D N A caps three-win day for Rodriguez, Dubb in Correction

Recovering quickly after breaking a step slow, Lion D N A stalked Baby J from close range, and held off Delightful Quality to prevail in Saturday’s $100,000 Correction Stakes at Aqueduct by a short head, giving owner Michael Dubb and trainer Rudy Rodriguez their third win on the card.

Lion D N A ($6.40) was favored in the field of 10 filly-and-mare sprinters after capturing the Interborough on New Year’s Day, and used familiar pace-pressing tactics to gut out her third straight victory at the inner-track meet.

Lion D N A tracked Baby J three wide through an opening quarter-mile in 23.46 seconds, took over after a half in 46.21 and was able to open a clear lead in midstretch. She was all out to stave off co-second choice Delightful Quality while drifting out late beneath C.C. Lopez.

“She didn’t break that well, then kind of ran off,” said Lopez, who also won the Tobbogan aboard Candyman E two races earlier. “But she settled down and I knew she was a winner turning for home.”

Lion D N A ran six furlongs in 1:11.32, and earned $60,000 for Dubb and co-owner Bethlehem Stable.

Rodriguez would have had a four-bagger on the day, but favored Dads Caps was run down in the final yards of the Toboggan.

“I was very confident about her today, and we’re lucky she ran her race,” said Rodriguez. “We claimed her because she could run for a $16,000 starter allowance, but she looks like she is getting better. We can run her [in starter allowances] if she needs relief, but hopefully she’ll keep improving and we’ll put her where she belongs.”

Delightful Quality came up just short while clearly best of the rest, and settled for her eighth runner-up finish from 13 career starts.

Masasi outfinished Uno Duo for third. The order of finish was completed by Expression, Love to Score, Baby J, Conkate, P J’s Superego, and I’m Mom’s Favorite.