Rodriguez sends two first-timers in maiden race

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The only non-claiming race on Thursday’s Aqueduct card is an $80,000 maiden race for 3-year-olds going six furlongs. Six of the eight horses in the field are first-time starters.

Trainer Rudy Rodriguez has the coupled entry of Rudy Rod and Hyperactive Chris, each making his debut Thursday. Rudy Rod, by Orb, is a half-brother to seven winners, including Tapizar, the 2012 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner. Tapizar did not win first time out, but three progeny of Rudy Rod’s dam, Winning Call, did.

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Hyperactive Chris is a son of Maclean’s Music who shows a work tab similar to Rudy Rod’s.

Eric Cancel rides Rudy Rod from post 4. Romero Maragh rides Hyperactive Chris from post 3.

Ranger Fox, trained by John Terranova, was a $310,000 yearling purchase by owner Eric Fein. His third dam is Xtra Heat, the 25-time stakes winner. Terranova is 0 for 22 with first-time starters the last five years at Aqueduct.

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Lemon Drop Road, a son of Quality Road, sports a solid work tab for trainer Jimmy Jerkens. He was working with Khafre, who on Jan. 17 finished third as the favorite in his debut.

Trainer Chad Brown sends out the first-time starter Crowded Trade, a son of More Than Ready who had a solid gate work Jan. 18 with the unraced New York-bred Street Culture.

Moonshiningbright was well beaten in both of his starts, but he was off slowly in his debut and dueled on the lead with the next-out winner Too Boss on Dec. 19. He gets Lasix for the first time and a rider switch to the hot-riding Jorge Vargas Jr. on Thursday.