Aqueduct: Lion D N A completes three-win day for Rodriguez in Interborough

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Some people chose to ring in the new year in Times Square. Rudy Rodriguez opted for the Aqueduct winner’s circle.

Rodriguez won three races on Wednesday’s New Year’s Day card, capped by Lion D N A, who rallied past Fantasy of Flight and Baby J in deep stretch to win the $100,000 Interborough Stakes by one-half length. Fantasy of Flight corralled pacesetter Baby J to get second by one-half length. Delightful Quality, the 8-5 favorite, and Miss Mischief completed the order of finish. Five Star Momma, second in last Saturday’s Willa On the Move Stakes at Laurel, and P J’s Superego scratched.

The win was the seventh from 27 starts for Lion D N A, a 5-year-old mare by Lion Heart who was claimed by Rodriguez for $30,000 on behalf of Michael Dubb, Bethlehem Stable, and Gary Aisquith. Rodriguez, who won Wednesday’s fourth with Red Constitution and the seventh with Pure Attitude, credited Dubb and Aisquith for choosing the Interborough for Lion D N A, who was coming out of a win in a starter race.

“We got to give all the credit to Michael Dubb. He pushed me to enter the filly and then we’d figure it out,” Rodriguez said. “They liked the way she looked in there. Gary Aisquith called me last night and said the filly looked like she’s got a very good chance. So, all the credit goes to them.”

Some credit should go to jockey C.C. Lopez, who despite his being known as a front-end rider, had Lion D N A sitting right behind the speed. Baby J, under Cornelio Velasquez, set the pace through fractions of 23.30 seconds for the quarter and 46.86 for the opening-half-mile.

Lopez tipped Lion D N A three-wide for the stretch drive and she gradually gained on the front-runners before getting up late. Lion D N A covered the six furlongs in 1:11.88 and returned $7.90 as the second choice.

“She broke okay. I just took my time and settled in behind them, just tried to work out a trip,” Lopez said. “I waited for the elbow, tipped her out and she just kept going. Anybody can do it when they’re running.”