Chelsea Durand Photo

Jules N Rome looks to continue two-turn success in Biogio's Rose

by Brian Bohl

Michael Dubb's Jules N Rome will look to continue her successful history in two-turn races as part of a field of six in the second running of the $100,000 Biogio's Rose for New York-bred fillies and mares 4-years-old and up at 1 1/16 miles on the inner dirt track on Sunday at Aqueduct Racetrack.

"It looks like she's coming into the race pretty good and she hands two turns well," trainer Rudy Rodriguez said. "The last time, she didn't run like we expected. I don't want to change her tactical speed. If she finds herself on the lead, we'll leave her alone. But if someone goes crazy, we'll see and take it from there."

Jules N Rome stalked the pace in her last two starts, finishing third in the Empire Distaff on October 22 at Belmont Park and rallying in the stretch to win the Saratoga Dew on August 15 at the Spa. Irad Ortiz, Jr. will have the call from post 2.

Isabelle, for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, will make her 2017 debut fresh off a 5 ½-length score in the Bay Ridge, where she overtook Jules N Rome and outkicked fellow Biogio Rose entrant Super Surprise for her first victory at two turns.

Owned by William Schnettine, the 6-year-old posted a career-best 95 Beyer Speed Figure in her last start. Jockey Kendrick Carmouche, who piloted her to that victory, will again have the call out of post 3.

Super Surprise, the Bay Ridge runner-up, is 3-1-1 in her last five starts, including stakes victories in the Maid of the Mist and Fleet Indian dating to October 2015. The Todd Pletcher trainee started as a sprinter but has one win and a second-place finish in two starts at over a mile.

Jose Ortiz will ride from post 4.

Daisey Cutter will return to stakes company for the first time in five starts for trainer Linda Rice. The 5-year-old won an optional claimer on January 6, winning at one mile and 70 yards to improve to 3-0-2 in five career starts on Aqueduct's inner track. Cornelio Velasquez will be in the irons out of post 5.

Rounding out the field will be Legally Bay, for Coffeepot Stables and trainer Marialice Coffey, who will depart from the rail with jockey Jackie Davis, after winning an optional claimer on January 16; and Dream On, for Jennifer Contessa and trainer Gary Contessa, who will make her first stakes start in leaving from the outside with jockey Antonio Gallardo.