Royal Posse makes drive for five in Jazil Stakes

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – When a visitor came by his barn to talk about Royal Posse, trainer Rudy Rodriguez couldn’t wait to show off the 6-year-old gelding.

“He looks good,” Rodriguez said on the way over to Royal Posse’s stall. “Believe me, he looks like a stakes horse. His coat looks like he was in Florida. Sometimes they lose a little weight, but he keeps his weight very, very good; he always eats good. Believe me, he’s the soundest horse we claimed.”

And one of the more successful horses Rodriguez has claimed. Since Rodriguez claimed him for $20,000 in May 2015, Royal Posse has 8 wins and 6 seconds in 14 starts. He has won seven stakes, including four straight.

On Saturday, Royal Posse will be favored to continue his streak against five rivals in the $125,000 Jazil Stakes going a mile and 70 yards over Aqueduct’s inner track. The Jazil shares billing with the $100,000 Ruthless Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, a race originally scheduled for last Sunday but postponed when that card was canceled.

Royal Posse is coming off a victory in the Claiming Crown Jewel Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Dec. 3. He raced within striking distance in fifth and then had to go four wide and be kept to task to run down Diamond Bachelor by a half-length.

Luis Saez rode him that day. Irad Ortiz Jr. is back aboard Saturday. Ortiz has 4 wins and 2 seconds from 6 rides on Royal Posse.

Rodriguez had been concerned about Doyouknowsomething possibly being loose on the lead in the Jazil. But the presence of Bay of Plenty and Res Judicata should ensure a contested pace.

Sunny Ridge, still seeking his first win since taking the Grade 3 Withers 11 months ago, and Grasshoppin, a Parx shipper from the barn of Mario Serey Jr., round out the field.

KEY CONTENDERS

Royal Posse, by Posse

Last 3 Beyers: 97-100-97

◗ He has won four straight stakes over three different surfaces – at Saratoga, Belmont Park, and Gulfstream.

◗ The one negative is he is 0 for 6 with three seconds over the inner track. He finished second in this race last year.

Doyouknowsomething, by Awesome Again

Last 3 Beyers: 102-94-86

◗ Comes off a bias-aided, front-running neck victory over Send It In in a high-caliber allowance race over the inner track Dec. 9. Send It In came back to win the Alex M. Robb Stakes for New York-breds.

◗ Trainer A.C. Avila doesn’t believe Doyouknowsomething has to have the lead, but he said the horse needs to be put into the race from the get-go.

“He has no problem being second or third, but he has to be sent from the gate,” Avila said.

◗ With Jose Ortiz at Oaklawn, Rajiv Maragh has the call.

Bay of Plenty, by Medaglia d’Oro

Last 3 Beyers: 0-98-97

◗ Inexplicably stopped after dueling for the lead when beaten 90 lengths in the Queens County, run over a track with moisture in it.

“Hopefully, it was just the track,” said Joe Lee, assistant to trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. “He’s fresh, jumping, carrying on. If he runs poorly, we’ll have to figure it out, but soundness-wise, he’s sound.”