Can Agave Kiss Rebound in Prioress?

Rudy Rodriguez remains baffled as to why Flying Zee Racing Stables’ Agave Kiss suffered her first career defeat when fifth in the Grade 3 Victory Ride on July 7, but the trainer is optimistic the 3-year-old filly will regain top form in the Grade 1, $300,000 Prioress on August 4. On Wednesday, Agave Kiss breezed four furlongs in 50.03 on the main track.

“So, far she’s been very good. She looks like she has adjusted to Saratoga,” said Rodriguez. “We’re happy with the way she is.”

Agave Kiss won the first six starts of her career for Flying Zee Racing Stables, including the Grade 3 Cicada in March at Aqueduct Racetrack, before she wilted in the Victory Ride.

“Your guess is as good as mine [as to why she ran poorly in the Victory Ride],” said Rodriguez. “I’m still looking for it. I’m going to [draw a line through the race]. Hopefully, she’ll do it, too. That’s what we’re trying to do. We’ll pretend it was a bad dream. It was kind of disappointing, but thankfully she came back good, and we’ll keep our fingers crossed. Hopefully, she’ll show up when we run her.”

In the Prioress, Agave Kiss is expected to have a rematch against Emma’s Encore, Jamaican Smoke, Tu Endie Wei, the respective top three finishers in the Victory Ride.