Condo Commando begins Oaks drive in Busher

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The Kentucky Oaks is only 10 weeks away, and if Condo Commando is going to make it to Churchill Downs on the first Friday in May, she needs to get her campaign started. Ready or not, Condo Commando will do just that in Saturday’s $100,000 Busher Stakes at Aqueduct.

Racing hasn’t been conducted here since last Saturday, but the forecast seems favorable for a return to action Saturday – if you consider 30 degrees with a chance of afternoon snow favorable.

Condo Commando hasn’t raced since Nov. 29, when she dominated the Grade 2 Demoiselle Stakes over Aqueduct’s main track by 11 1/2 lengths. Nitpickers will point to the speed-favoring nature of the track that day. However, Condo Commando ran 1 1/8 miles two seconds faster than Snowbell did in winning the Grade 3 Comely and 0.66 seconds faster than did Leave the Light On in winning the Grade 2 Remsen.

Condo Commando also won the Grade 1 Spinaway by 13 1/4 lengths at Saratoga as part of a 3-for-4 2014 campaign that earned her a place as a finalist for the Eclipse Award as 2-year-old champion filly.

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Condo Commando was given a break following the Demoiselle, and she has worked only four times for her comeback.

“I wish I had a couple more weeks with her, then I’d be very, very happy, but she’s coming into the race good,” trainer Rudy Rodriguez said. “I think we’re a little short. The way the track has played, it’s a little tiring. I’m a little concerned about getting her tired, but she’s training very good.”

Rodriguez said he was hoping for a little bit easier of a spot, noting that the field includes Overprepared, the winner of the Busanda Stakes last out, and Paulassilverlining, a dual sprint-stakes winner.

“There are a couple of nice fillies there, but I wouldn’t trade places, that’s for sure,” Rodriguez said.

The Busher, which goes as the third race at 2:18 p.m. Eastern, offers 17 qualifying points (10-4-2-1) toward the Kentucky Oaks under a system used to determine the field should more than 14 enter the race.

KEY CONTENDERS Condo Commando (Last 3 Beyers: 96-72-92)

◗ She is not only the most accomplished filly in the field, but she possesses the most natural speed and figures to break running from the outside post under Junior Alvarado.

“I know she’s got natural speed, and she’s going to be sharp off the layoff,” Rodriguez said. “Maybe she’ll break sharp and settle down and see what the other horses are going to do.”

Overprepared (Last 3 Beyers: 67-64-76)

◗ She was able to set a pedestrian pace when wiring the field in the Busanda last out, her second win from three starts.

◗ Her lone loss came in the Smart Halo Stakes at Laurel, where she was forced to check sharply in midstretch.

◗ Jockey Kendrick Carmouche won last year’s Busanda on Joint Return.

Liberty Island (Beyers: 65-67)

◗ New York-bred filly came with a nice late run when second in the Busanda.

◗ Her half-mile work in 47.84 seconds Feb. 7 was very good, but she hasn’t been able to work since.