Jules N Rome brings strong inner-track record to Bay Ridge Stakes

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Royal Posse might be the best example of trainer Rudy Rodriguez’s knack for finding stakes winners at the claim box, but he is hardly the only one.

Of the 14 claims Rodriguez made during the Saratoga meet, three have come back to win stakes, including Jules N Rome, who will seek her second stakes success in Sunday’s $100,000 Bay Ridge Stakes at Aqueduct. The Bay Ridge, contested at 1 1/16 miles, is restricted to New York-bred fillies and mares and drew a field of eight.

Rodriguez said Jules N Rome had always been on his radar, but when she was offered for $40,000 last December, he said none of his owners wanted in. She wasn’t offered for a claiming tag again until July, and at that time, Rodriguez claimed her for $62,500 on behalf of Michael Dubb.

They got a quick return on their investment 19 days later when Jules N Rome won the $100,000 Saratoga Dew Stakes at Saratoga going 1 1/8 miles. In her next start, Jules N Rome finished third, 23 1/2 lengths behind runaway winner Bar of Gold, in the Empire Distaff on a sloppy Belmont surface.

“The other day, Javier [Castellano] was chasing the winner, and the winner was too much for her that day,” Rodriguez said. “We probably lost second doing that.”

In the Bay Ridge, Jules N Rome returns to a surface over which she has three wins and three seconds from six starts.

Rodriguez will also run Literata, whom he claimed for $40,000 last Jan. 7. The 1 1/16 miles around two turns could be pushing the limit of what Literata prefers.

The Rodriguez pair will have to beat Super Surprise, a daughter of Giant Surprise who won the Fleet Indian Stakes for 3-year-old New York-bred fillies at Saratoga.

Storied Lady, the 2014 Bay Ridge winner, is a five-time winner over the inner track but has been off form in her last three starts.

KEY CONTENDERS

Jules N Rome, by Dunkirk
Last 3 Beyers: 72-89-80

◗ Has the ability to go to the lead or come from off the pace.

◗ Overcame the outside post in a 10-horse field to win the Saratoga Dew. Has the outside post in an eight-horse field Sunday.

“I would like to see her sitting third outside, nice and comfortable, and take it from there,” said Rodriguez, who has Junior Alvarado to ride.

Super Surprise, by Giant Surprise
Last 3 Beyers: 76-86-86

◗ Missed the first half of her 3-year-old season due to ankle surgery, according to trainer Todd Pletcher. Came off the bench at Saratoga to win an allowance sprint and then the Fleet Indian Stakes by four lengths, the latter at 1 1/8 miles.

◗ Defeated Highway Star in the Fleet Indian. Highway Star came back to beat Super Surprise in the New York Stallion Stakes at seven furlongs before taking the Grade 3 Go for Wand Handicap on Dec. 3.

Literata, by Read the Footnotes
Last 3 Beyers: 72-78-81

◗ Seems more effective around one turn, including an allowance win going 1 1/16 miles at Belmont two starts back. Tale of Ruby, the runner-up from that Sept. 23 race, came back two starts later to win the Safely Kept Stakes at Laurel.