Demoiselle Appears Ripe for an Upset

With class, speed and surface questions surrounding some of the top wagering choices in Saturday's GII Demoiselle S. at Aqueduct, the nine-furlong test seems ripe for an upset, and although she, too, has something to find on paper, WinStar Farm's Spirituality (Gemologist) could be the right one at boxcar odds.

Bet down into 19-10 favoritism for her six-furlong debut at Delaware Aug. 4, the $150,000 OBS March purchase was admittedly gifted a soft lead, but came home her final two furlongs in a solid :24.64 to graduate by eight lengths. A never-in-it ninth in the Arlington-Washington Lassie over the Poly Sept. 10, she was an even third in the six-furlong GIII Matron S. Oct. 16 in her first start for the Pletcher barn. The progeny of this freshman sire seem to be asking for this extra distance and she gets blinkers off for the stretch out.

Trainer Rudy Rodriguez saddles a third of the Demoiselle field, headed by Jamyson 'n Ginger (Bernardini), fifth to subsequent GI Frizette S. winner Yellow Agate (Gemologist) in a Sept. 11 Belmont maiden before bolting in by better than 15 lengths over a sloppy strip in Elmont Oct. 9. The $280,000 Fasig-Tipton Florida grad came back down to earth in the Nov.5 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, finishing fifth and she needs to prove her maiden-breaker was not anomylous.

“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,” Rodriguez said.

Libby's Tail (Tiz Wonderful) impressed on her July debut at Belmont, but flopped as the 3-2 favorite in the GII Adirondack S., checking in fourth. The dark bay made the running in the Frizette, but drifted out in the final half-furlong and was tagged by Yellow Agate. If Libby's Tail wants to lead again, she figures to have plenty of company in the form of GIII Tempted S. winner Miss Sky Warrior (First Samurai), stablemate Bonita Bianca (Curlin) and potentially Ladies Day (Bernardini).

Should the race fall apart, look for Elandess (Scat Daddy) to make a late run. Seventh, but not beaten far in a Sept. 11 maiden over the Belmont grass, the dark bay most recently plundered a rained-off maiden by 7 1/4 lengths Oct. 9, and while it remains to be seen if she handles a dry main track, she figures to appreciate the flow of the race and possesses the pedigree to see out the distance.