Rodriguez seeks juvenile stakes double in Key Cents, Notebook
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Rudy Rodriguez has a chance at a big Sunday at Aqueduct with runners in five races, including top contenders in both $100,000 sprint stakes races for New York-bred 2-year-olds.
In race 2, the Key Cents Stakes for juvenile fillies, Rodriguez sends out one-third of the field in Sweetpollypurebrd and The Lewis Dinner. Roughly three hours later, in race 8, Rodriguez will saddle Good Luck Gus in the $100,000 Notebook Stakes for 2-year-old males. Both races are at six furlongs.
This is the inaugural running of both races, part of the enhanced package of New York-bred stakes announced earlier in the year by the New York Thoroughbred Breeders and New York Racing Association.
Though Sweetpollypurebrd and The Lewis Dinner are uncoupled in the wagering, they could turn out to be a complementary entry, as Rodriguez plans to have The Lewis Dinner flash her speed, while Sweetpollypurebrd likely will come from off the pace.
There appears to be plenty of speed with Alexandrie and My Super Nova in the field.
“The Lewis Dinner has got a lot of speed,” said Rodriguez. “I don’t want to take that speed away from her. Sweetpollypurebrd can relax a little more, especially coming from the 1 hole.”
In the Notebook, Good Luck Gus shortens up to six furlongs after finishing second to the good-looking Todd Pletcher-trained Ostrolenka in the $250,000 Sleepy Hollow Stakes at a mile. Two starts back, the last time he ran at six furlongs, Good Luck Gus won the $252,000 New York Breeders’ Futurity at Finger Lakes.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 5 Good Luck Gus. Trainer Rudy Rodriguez is 19-5-4-4 with a $3.18 ROI over the past two years going route to sprint on dirt in statebred races. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Tizquick, a good-looking winner last out at Belmont, and debut winners Regal Minister and Clockwork loom the major threats.
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KEY CENTS (RACE 2)
Key contenders
Sweetpollypurebrd (Last 3 Beyers: 61-63-62)
* Shortens up to six furlongs after running third to runaway winner Quezon in the Maid of the Mist Stakes.
* Though Sweetpollypurebrd won her maiden in front-running fashion, Rodriguez expects her to come from off the pace Sunday under Jose Ortiz.
The Lewis Dinner (Last 3 Beyers: 77-66-57)
* After finishing second to Quezon in a maiden race Sept. 17, she came back to win her maiden by 5 1/2 lengths, going six furlongs in the mud Oct. 16.
* Loses jockey Joel Rosario to My Super Nova. Picks up Manny Franco.
Alexandrie (Last 2 Beyers: 67-51)
* Trainer Todd Pletcher returns this filly to dirt after she won her maiden on turf last out.
“I thought she showed some improvement on the grass,” said Pletcher. “She ran well. Then, subsequently, she’s been training real well on the dirt, so we decided to give her another [dirt] try.”
* Alexandrie will be cutting back in distance from 1 1/16 miles.
“She’s pretty quick,” said Pletcher. “I don’t think distance will be the issue. It’s just a matter of whether dirt is her preferred surface or not. I’ve been encouraged by what I’ve seen her last few works.”
NOTEBOOK (RACE 8)
Key contenders
Good Luck Gus (Last 3 Beyers: 84-80-71)
* His speed figures have improved the last two starts, both coming with the addition of blinkers.
“I think he’s more focused. He wants to be playing around,” Rodriguez said. “He might want to go a little farther than three-quarters.”
Tizquick (Last 3 Beyers: 72-41-70)
* Second to Upstart in his debut at Saratoga. Upstart came back to win a stakes, run second in the Grade 1 Champagne, and run third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
* After a poor race in the slop, where he got away poorly, Tizquick came back with a strong off-the-pace maiden win over a fast Belmont track Oct. 18.
“He didn’t like the mud at all,” trainer John Kimmel said. “He’s a big, handsome horse. He’s a beautiful mover. I think as he stretches out in distance, he can use some of his physical attributes and be a top performer.”
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 4 Tizquick. Trainer John Kimmel is 26-2-5-3 with a $0.35 ROI over the past five years in dirt sprints following a maiden victory. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
Clockwork (Last Beyer: 60)
* Ran a really professional race to win his debut in an off-the-turf event in the mud Oct. 25.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 1 Breakin the Fever. Trainer Debra Breed is 7-2-0-2 with a $4.42 ROI over the past five years in dirt sprints on the NYRA circuit. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan