Royal Posse tries to break through on inner track in Jazil

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Royal Posse has won 11 races, including seven stakes, from 34 starts and banked more than $1 million. But he has yet to solve Aqueduct’s inner track.

The 6-year-old gelding will try to rectify that Saturday when he heads a field of six entered Wednesday for the $125,000 Jazil Stakes at a mile and 70 yards.

Royal Posse is winless in six starts over the inner track. Two of his six losses in his last 14 starts came last winter over the inner when he finished second in both the Jazil and Haynesfield stakes. In the Haynesfield, restricted to New York-breds, he finished behind stablemate Good Luck Gus. In the winter of 2013-14, Royal Posse lost three maiden races over the inner track.

Royal Posse, trained by Rudy Rodriguez for Michael Dubb, Bethlehem Stables, and Gary Aisquith, has won four consecutive stakes, including a second straight running of the Claiming Crown Jewel at Gulfstream Park in December. Last year, he came out of the Claiming Crown Jewel and finished second to Majestic Affair in the Jazil.

Rodriguez said Royal Posse has had a good six weeks in New York since returning from Florida. On Wednesday, Rodriguez was aboard Royal Posse for a half-mile workout timed in 50.65 seconds by Aqueduct clockers.

“He went beautiful,” Rodriguez said. “I was just sitting on him, nice and comfortable. I was three or four paths off the rail because the rail was deep. He needed to do something.”

Royal Posse drew post 3 for the Jazil and will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. The rest of the field comprises Res Judicata, last year’s Grade 3 Salvator Mile winner; Sunny Ridge, Bay of Plenty, Grasshoppin, and Doyouknowsomething.

The Jazil is carded as race 5 on Saturday’s nine-race program.