Rodriguez has hot hand with juvenile fillies

ELMONT, N.Y. – As Rudy Rodriguez has worked his way to the top of the trainer standings this fall at Belmont Park, one thing has become evident: He has a talented and diverse group of 2-year-old fillies.

Four of Rodriguez’s meet-leading 22 victories this fall have come with juvenile fillies, including Arella Rockstar, who captured Sunday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Matron Stakes as a 12-1 longshot. Arella Rockstar’s victory was part of a 4-for-4 afternoon for Rodriguez, who opened up a 22-19 lead over Chad Brown in the Belmont fall trainer standings.

Arella Rockstar was claimed for $50,000 by Bob Edwards’s e Five Racing Thoroughbreds out of the last race Aug. 31 at Saratoga. Four horses were claimed out of that maiden race, and Rodriguez said he and Edwards were actually interested in claiming a different horse until the field assembled in the paddock.

“We were looking at another horse in the race,” Rodriguez said. “We don’t like her, and this one was right behind her. I said, ‘Listen, if you like it, let’s roll the dice.’ He got the ticket, filled it out, and got it going.”

Arella Rockstar won the maiden race, then won the Matron by three-quarters of a length over heavily favored Cherry Lodge. Options for her could include the Grade 3, $200,000 Tempted going a mile on Nov. 5 at Aqueduct or the $125,000 Furlough going six furlongs at Aqueduct on Thanksgiving Day.

Arella Rockstar is owned in partnership with Magic Cap Stables. Magic Cap is also the owner of Jamyson ‘n Ginger, who on Oct. 9 won a one-mile maiden race over a sloppy track at Belmont by 15 1/4 lengths and earned a 103 Beyer Speed Figure, the highest by a 2-year-old of either gender this year.

Rodriguez said Sunday that Jamyson ‘n Ginger is “90 percent” sure to head to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita on Nov. 5.

The win came in Jamyson ‘n Ginger’s third start. She finished third at Saratoga in her debut and then was fifth behind Yellow Agate on Sept. 11 at Belmont. Yellow Agate came back to win the Grade 1 Frizette, finishing in front of the Rodriguez-trained duo of Libby’s Tail and Colorful Charades.

“She got very tired the first time we ran her at Saratoga, and then we expected her to win the next time,” Rodriguez said of Jamyson ‘n Ginger.

But Jamyson ‘n Ginger stumbled at the start Sept. 11 and ended up beaten 7 3/4 lengths. Rodriguez said Jamyson ‘n Ginger “was the only horse that was closing.”

“We always thought she could go long, and she proved she could go long the other day in the slop,” he said. “I don’t think it was the slop; I think she’s a quality filly.”

Rodriguez’s other 2-year-old fillies to win at this meet were Bonita Bianca and Woundwithhereyes. Bonita Bianca is pointing to Saturday’s $250,000 Maid of the Mist Stakes for New York-bred fillies. Rodriguez is also likely to run Tainted Angel, a filly he just claimed for $50,000 out of a win.