Condo Commando Tries 2 Turns in Demoiselle

By Jerry Bossert



Rudy Rodriguez isn't sure why Condo Commando failed to fire in the Frizette Stakes (gr. I), but the trainer's hoping she'll rebound in the $400,000 Demoiselle Stakes (gr. II) at Aqueduct Racetrack Nov. 29.



"Your guess is as good as mine," Rodriguez said on why Condo Commando weakened to fourth as the odds-on choice in the Frizette Oct. 4 at Belmont Park. "She just never seemed comfortable going around the track."



The Frizette was contested over a sloppy, sealed track that looked similar to the conditions when she won the Spinaway Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga Aug. 31 by 13 1/4 lengths. But they weren't, according to Rodriguez.



"That track was very different than Saratoga," he said. "It was a tiring, cuppy track that day (at Belmont) but she came out of the race pretty good."



Rodriguez thought about running the 2-year-old filly by Tiz Wonderful   in the Tempted Stakes (gr. III) at Aqueduct Nov. 2 but decided to give her some more time and try her going two turns in the Demoiselle.



"She's doing everything well since the Frizette and we wanted to try her two turns," Rodriguez said. "It will be a big test for us."



Since the Frizette, Condo Commando has worked steadily at Aqueduct, including two breezes going six furlongs.



"She's been galloping good in the mornings and we've been giving her some long breezes trying to point for this race," Rodriguez said. "Hopefully she'll be right there."



Jockey Joel Rosario has picked up the mount on Condo Commando. He replaces Joe Bravo, who rode the filly in all her three starts, including a 12-length score in her debut Aug. 3.



The Demoiselle drew a field of eight 2-year-old fillies with Condo Commando breaking from post 6.



Todd Pletcher has saddled the winner of the Demoiselle Stakes five times in his career: Smok'n Frolic (2001), Ashado (2003), Disposablepleasure (2011), Unlimited Budget (2012) and Stopchargingmaria (2013).



On Saturday, he will have Angela Renee, who is looking to rebound after tiring to 10th as the favorite in the 14 Hands Winery Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) Nov. 1 from Santa Anita Park.



After breaking her maiden in her debut at Belmont June 27, Angela Renee finished second in the Adirondack Stakes (gr. II) at Saratoga Aug. 10. She was a distant third behind Condo Commando in the Spinaway.



Angela Renee was then shipped to Santa Anita, where she took the Chandelier Stakes (gr. I) Sept. 27 by a 1 1/2 lengths before disappointing in the Juvenile Fillies. She will break from post 7 under John Velazquez.



Jacaranda has won both career starts for trainer Mike Hushion, including the Tempted Stakes (gr. III) from Aqueduct Nov. 2. She will break from post 8 and will be ridden by Jose Ortiz, who was aboard her in her first two starts.

Also coming into the Demoiselle with back-to-back wins to begin her career is New York-bred Quezon. The Robert Ribaudo trainee tries open company after a six-length romp in the Maid of the Mist Stakes Oct. 18.