Gazelle no easy spot for Condo Commando
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Condo Commando was “splash-tastic” in the Spinaway and dominant in the Demoiselle. Despite those impressive performances and a gaudy 4-for-5 race record, she still might need to do more to prove herself a bona-fide contender for next month’s Kentucky Oaks.
Condo Commando faces her sternest test to date when she heads a seven-horse field entered in Saturday’s Grade 2, $300,000 Gazelle Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Aqueduct. The Gazelle, at 1 1/8 miles, is the first leg of an all-graded-stakes pick four wager with a guaranteed pool of $500,000.
Condo Commando’s four victories have come by a combined 41 1/2 lengths. All four of her victories – including a 13 1/4-length win in the Grade 1 Spinaway in the slop at Saratoga and an 11 1/2-length triumph in the Grade 2 Demoiselle here last fall – came when she was able to get loose on the lead.
With three fast fillies in the Gazelle field – Noble and a Beauty, a sprinter stretching out; Jacaranda, the front-running winner of the Grade 3 Tempted; and Money’soncharlotte – Condo Commando might not get the lead so easily.
The stretch runners include Wonder Gal, the third-place finisher in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, and Puca, a 16-length maiden winner at Belmont last fall who finished two lengths behind Wonder Gal when sixth in the Breeders’ Cup.
The Gazelle offers 170 qualifying points (100-40-20-10) to the top four finishers toward the $1 million Kentucky Oaks on May 1 at Churchill Downs.
“This is a big race for her and for us, and hopefully she shows up the right way,” said Rudy Rodriguez, who trains Condo Commando for Michael Dubb, Bethlehem Stables, and The Elkstone Group.
Key contenders
Condo Commando (Last 3 Beyers: 90-96-72)
◗ She came off a 12-week layoff and won the Busher Stakes over the inner track Feb. 21, though she didn’t change leads until very late. Rodriguez said jockey Junior Alvarado “did not want to force her because she was running good.”
◗ Rodriguez said Condo Commando is “more mature” than she was last year. “She’s a lot more filly than before,” he said.
◗ Joel Rosario, aboard for the Demoiselle win, is back aboard Saturday.
Wonder Gal (Last 3 Beyers: 81-74-80)
◗ She has not run since finishing third, beaten just a length by Take Charge Brandi, in the BC Juvenile Fillies.
◗ She probably would prefer to sit back and make one run.
“I hope she just relaxes the first part so she can finish well and move forward off this race,” trainer Leah Gyarmati said. “Hopefully, there’ll be a nice, honest pace.”
Puca (Last 3 Beyers: 74-78-80)
◗ She was beaten three lengths after attempting to rally from next-to-last in the BC Juvenile Fillies, won by the loose-on-the-lead Take Charge Brandi.
◗ She finished fourth in the Grade 2 Davona Dale, a one-turn, one-mile race at Gulfstream in which she got off a step slowly and steadied a little down the backside when trying to weave her way into contention. The Davona Dale produced Gulfstream Oaks one-two finishers Birdatthewire and Eskenformoney.