Rodriguez triumvirate seeks first stakes win in G2 Demoiselle

by Brian Bohl

Trainer Rudy Rodriguez will saddle three stakes-tested entries in the nine-horse field for the 95th running of the Grade 2, $300,000 Demoiselle at 1 1/8 miles for juvenile fillies on Saturday, Cigar Mile Day, at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The Demoiselle is part of the 2017 Road to the Kentucky Oaks, where 10 points are awarded to the winner, four points will go to the second-place finisher, two points for third place and one point for fourth place. 

Two of Rodriguez's charges - Jamyson 'n Ginger and Libby's Tail - have made Grade 1 starts, and will both be looking for their first career stakes win in their debut at the Big A.

Owned by Magic Cap Stables, Jamyson 'n Ginger is coming off a game fifth-place finish in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies on November 5 at Santa Anta. She utilized a ground-saving turn to rally from last in a 12-horse field in her first start since breaking her maiden with a personal-best 103 Beyer Speed Figure on October 9 at Belmont Park.

"Everyone's in the same boat, but she's coming into the race good," Rodriguez said. "She might have needed a little time coming from that race and shipping [back to New York] from California, but we'll see what we have to do."

Breaking his maiden over a one-turn mile, Jamyson 'n Ginger will be stretched out to the Demoiselle distance for the first time, drawing post 4 with Irad Ortiz, Jr. set to ride.

"We'll find out if she can go the mile-and-an-eighth," Rodriguez said. "The distance is going to be the question we need to answer."

Libby's Tail has two career graded stakes starts on her ledger, including a runner-up finish last out in the Grade 1 Frizette on October 8 at Belmont, which Yellow Agate won by a head. 

Libby's Tail has stretched out in distance in each of her three starts, breaking her maiden at 5 ½ furlongs on July 2 at Belmont before finishing fourth in the Grade 2 Adirondack at 6 ½ furlongs on August 19 at Saratoga Race Course.

"I hope she runs the way she did at Belmont," Rodriguez said. "They're babies, so you don't know. The distance will be a challenge for all them, because there's a big difference between a mile and a mile-and-an-eighth."

Libby's Tail will exit post 3 in tandem with Javier Castellano. 

"I'll leave the trip up to the jockeys," Rodriguez said. "I don't usually say too much because when they come out of the gate, you don't know what they're going to do."

Bonita Bianca, the third entry for Rodriguez, won her stakes debut by posting a 5 ¼-length win in the Maid of the Mist on October 22 at Belmont. The Curlin chestnut filly is 2-for-2 in her career and will make her graded stakes debut from post 6. Joel Rosario will ride.

Miss Sky Warrior is the lone graded stakes winner, capturing the Grade 3 Tempted on November 5 at Aqueduct. The Kelly Breen trainee finished three-quarters of a length ahead of Berned in her stakes debut. The Arlene's Sun Star Stable homebred will have the services of Paco Lopez from post 2.

Trainer Todd Pletcher will send out a pair of entries seeking their first stakes win. Spirituality, who was third in the Grade 3 Matron, will stretch out from six furlongs in her first career Grade 2 start. The daughter of Gemologist will leave from the outside in tandem with Jose Ortiz. 

Elandess, owned by Robert S. Evans, will be making her stakes debut after a 7 ¼-length maiden breaking win on October 9 at Belmont. Hall of Famer John Velazquez has the call from post 5. 

Rounding out the field is Majestic Bonnie, for trainer George Weaver and Bona Venture Stables, who was fifth in the Grade 3 Jessamine on October 12 at Keeneland, from post 7; Ladies Day, making her stakes debut after finishing second in her debut and a maiden-breaking win on October 16, for trainer Tom Albertrani out of post 8; Romantic Music, who is 1-1-0 in four career starts, for trainer Derek Ryan, will depart from the rail.