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Rodriguez sends out 'Ruthless' trio

by Najja Thompson

Currently leading the Aqueduct Racetrack winter meet with 10 wins following Thursday's live racing card, trainer Rudy Rodriguez has no plans to slow down entering a formidable triumvirate to headline a field of six for Sunday's $100,000 Ruthless at seven furlongs for 3-year-old fillies on Sunday at the Big A.

Making up Rodriguez's contingent Pick Six Racing's Strategic Dreams, Wall of Compassion for Michael Dubb, Monomoy Stables and The Elkstone Group, and Zayat Stables' Danyelli.

Breaking her maiden in her debut last August at Saratoga Race Course, Strategic Dreams went on to finish fifth in the Grade 1 Frizette at Belmont Park, before taking an optional-claiming race on November 10 at Aqueduct. In her most recent start, the Florida-bred Archarcharch captured the Gin Talking on December 30 at Laurel Park. 

Wall of Campassion by Jimmy Creed, has two wins from five career starts with one second and third-place finish. Last out, she went wire-to-wire to win an optional-claiming race on December 29 at Aqueduct. 

A daughter of Mineshaft, Danyelli will face winners for the first time after impressively breaking her maiden in her third career start on November 24 at Aqueduct where she recorded a field-high 87 Beyer Speed Figure.

"The three of them are each coming into the race very good," said Rodriguez. "The distance might be a bit of a question for Wall of Compassion, but she's been training well coming into this race. With Strategic Dreams, we may be bringing her back a little quicker than I wanted, but [she's] training extremely well. Danyelli ran the way we thought she was going to run last time out, but now she's got to step her game up. All three are coming up in very good shape and should be competitive. I would expect 

Danyelli will probably be in front with Wall of Compassion and Strategic Dreams in position to stalk, but it should be a good race."

Drawing post 6, Strategic Dreams will be ridden by Manny Franco. Wall of Compassion will have Kendrick Carmouche in the irons from post 5, and Danyelli will leave from rail with Junior Alvarado aboard.

Looking to improve off a game second-place finish in an allowance race on December 21 at the Big A is Dream Fever for trainer Brad Cox and owner Steve Landers. 

The daughter of Midshipman was claimed by her new owners after breaking her maiden in her third career start on December 1st at the Big A.

With Trevor McCarthy aboard, Dream Fever will leave from post 4.

Rounding out the field is Paranoia for trainer Eddie Barker and owners Danny Chen, James Cestaro and Campbell Road Stables and Blushing Justine for trainer Dennis Lalman and owners Matthew Kilstein and Nat Krohn.