Lujien Lujien aims to ambush 'em
JAMAICA, N.Y. - She spanked 'em at Saratoga, and blew 'em away at Belmont. Sunday, Lujien Lujien completes her tour of the New York Racing Association tracks when she heads a full field of 2-year-old fillies entered in the $75,000 Miss Grillo Stakes at nine furlongs over Aqueduct's turf course.
Fifteen juvenile fillies were entered for the Miss Grillo, but only 12 will be permitted to run. They all have Lujien Lujien to beat.
A daughter of Cozzene, Lujien Lujien has been visually impressive in each of her two starts. Lujien Lujien won her maiden on Aug. 2 at Saratoga, stalking a modest pace before making a strong move around the turn and drawing off through the stretch to win by three lengths.
On Oct. 12 at Belmont, Lujien Lujien romped to a 5 1/4-length victory in an allowance race without ever feeling the leather of jockey Edgar Prado's whip. She covered a mile in a solid 1:34.84.
"She doesn't act like a 2-year-old. She's so mature for her age, she does everything so professionally,'' trainer James Bond said. "In her first start she sat in behind horses and exploded when he asked her. The thing I really like about her is she's bred to run all day, so the added distance shouldn't bother her too much. She's already won around two turns so that shouldn't bother her.''
Lujien Lujien will break from post 7 under Edgar Prado as the co-starting highweight at 118 pounds.
Kathy K D, a daughter of Saint Ballado, returns to New York after winning twice in Kentucky. Trainer Rusty Arnold shipped Kathy K D to Kentucky Downs because she twice was excluded from maiden races in New York. After she won on Sept. 24, Arnold ran her right back in an allowance race at Keeneland, which she took by a length despite a five-wide trip.
"She got a lot done in 16 days, but I'm not sure what we beat,'' Arnold said. "We'll get an idea of her quality. I think she's an improving horse.''
Riskaverse was most impressive winning a six-furlong maiden turf race by 4 1/4 lengths at Belmont in July. Riskaverse, trained by Pat Kelly, has not been on turf since, but has the breeding to handle the nine furlongs.
Trainer Bobby Frankel has won 14 stakes in New York this year and sends out Megahertz, who needs a scratch to get into the field. Madame X Ski is an intriguing pedigree play as she is a full-brother to the multiple graded-stakes winning Tenski.