Aqueduct: Rodriguez taking it slow with Agave Kiss

Trainer Rudy Rodriguez said his objective with Ruthless Stakes winner Agave Kiss is to have as fresh a 3-year-old filly as possible to tackle the heavy heads in the Grade 1 Prioress at Belmont in July.

That’s why on Monday morning Rodriguez remained non-committal as to where Agave Kiss would make her next start. There are plenty of options, including the $75,000 Dearly Precious on Feb. 11, Grade 3, $150,000 Cicada on March 10, and the $75,000 Broadway on March 24.

“I want to try to keep her fresh for the summer,” Rodriguez said Monday morning in his Aqueduct barn. “I want to baby her and take the easiest spots we can get.”

Agave Kiss won the Ruthless by 3 1/4 lengths, running six furlongs in 1:10.28. She earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 94 for the effort.

Rodriguez said Agave Kiss came out of the race in good order.