Fast or sloppy, Royal Posse tough in Jazil
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – In addition to being in career-best form entering Saturday’s $125,000 Jazil Stakes at Aqueduct, Royal Posse might have the added benefit of catching a wet inner track in the mile-and-70-yard race for older males.
Royal Posse has won three of his last four starts and is coming off a victory in the $200,000 Claiming Crown Jewel on Dec. 5, a race run over a sloppy Gulfstream Park surface. He overcame post 11 in a 14-horse field that afternoon.
“I would like to see a dry track, but the way he ran in Gulfstream the other day, the track was soaked, and it looked like he ran a pretty good race,” said Rudy Rodriguez, who trains Royal Posse for a group that is led by Michael Dubb.
A wet surface could hinder one of his main challengers. Day of Fury has run two strong races over the inner track, with a second followed by a win in a second-level allowance-condition race. However, his wet-track form is suspect at 0 for 4.
“He’s just okay in the slop,” said David Jacobson, the owner and trainer of Day of Fury.
Jacobson also sends out Stormin Monarcho, who has run well over wet surfaces but is coming off two subpar races.
Lucky Lotto and Majestic Affair finished one-two in an allowance race Dec. 16, but Lucky Lotto was disqualified and placed second after carrying Majestic Affair out several paths in the stretch.
Kid Cruz, who has four seconds and a third in his last five starts, and Turco Bravo, the winner of the Stymie Stakes here last winter, complete the field for the Jazil, which goes as race 3.
KEY CONTENDERS
Royal Posse (Last 3 Beyers: 94-92-91)
◗ Has three wins and two seconds since being claimed by Rodriguez for $20,000 last May. All of those races have come at 1 1/8 miles.
◗ His tactical speed should suit him well in this race and allow him to sit off Lucky Lotto and Day of Fury, the two expected pace players in this field.
Majestic Affair (Last 3 Beyers: 93-79-64)
◗ A sprint stakes winner over the inner track last winter, Majestic Affair ran well in his first try around two turns last out, getting put up to first after being interfered with by Lucky Lotto.
“He handled the two turns just fine,” said Cherie DeVaux, the Belmont-based assistant to trainer Chad Brown. “I do think that horse did impede him.”
◗ Jockey Kendrick Carmouche has won races at a 30 percent clip for this barn over the last two years.
Day of Fury (Last 3 Beyers: 91-89-64)
◗ Has put in two good efforts over the inner track and has the speed to be a player after breaking from the outside.
◗ Can throw in the occasional clunker, as he did last October at Belmont Park, where, according to Jacobson, the horse got upset in his stall due to the noise caused by a delivery truck.
“He’s temperamental,” Jacobson said.
Kid Cruz (Last 3 Beyers: 95-102-99)
◗ A nonthreatening third behind Financial Modeling in the Queens County, he would benefit from a stronger pace, which he might get if Lucky Lotto and Day of Fury hook up early.