On a sloppy Sunday afternoon two summers ago, Condo Commando (Tiz Wonderful) gave trainer Rudy Rodriguez the first Grade I victory of his training career in the GI Spinaway S. Though only a maiden, but placed in her two trips to the post to date, Special Risk (Eskendereya) will be given a shot against some of Saratoga's fleetest juvenile fillies in the 2016 renewal Saturday afternoon.
Owned in partnership by Michael Dubb and The Elkstone Group–who also campaigned Condo Commando–and Sol Kumin's Head of Plains Partners, Special Risk outran debut odds of 15-1 to finish a good third at Belmont Park May 18 and bridged most of a seven-length deficit in the final furlong of a July 22 Spa maiden before finishing second by a half-length behind the front-running Bowie (Malibu Moon).
“We're just taking a chance. She looks like she wants to go the distance so that's going to be a plus, but the race is going to be tough,” Rodriguez said. “We've just got to hope that she improves a little bit and is competitive. There's a couple horses in there that look like they're pretty fast, so hopefully they hook up and go :21 and :44 [seconds] and maybe we can sit behind and pick up some of the pieces.”
Special Risk drew gate two and will be ridden by Joel Rosario.
“She looks like she's coming into the race good, and the post is good,” Rodriguez commented. “She drew on the inside and she doesn't have much speed. She's going to be sitting there and she doesn't have to take back so maybe she'll be a little closer than drawing on the outside and having to save ground. Hopefully we can pick up a check. If we win, I'm not going to get mad.”
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