Condo Commando to Make Season Debut in Busher

 

Having ended 2014 with an impressive 11½-length victory in the Grade 2 Demoiselle on November 29, Condo Commando will make her first start as a 3-year-old taking on five competitors in the $100,000 Busher at 1 1/16 miles on Saturday at Aqueduct Racetrack.

 

Trained by Rudy Rodriguez for Michael Dubb and Bethlehem Stables, the Tiz Wonderful filly has collected three wins from four starts. She began her career with a stellar 12-length win in her debut August 3 at Saratoga Race Course and followed by taking the Grade 1 Spinaway in the slop by 13¼ lengths. Her only loss thus far came in the Grade 1 Frizette at Belmont Park on October 4 where she traveled three-wide most of the way on an off track to finish fourth.

The 1-2 morning-line favorite, Condo Commando will leave from post 6 with jockey Junior Alvarado aboard.   

"She's coming along good," said Rodriguez.  "I know she wants to be on the lead, but we drew a good post and will leave it up to the jockey [Junior Alvarado] on where she will be during the race but she's been training very well."

Paulassilverlining, a brown filly sired by Ghostzapper out of Seeking the Silver, mare by Grindstone, enters for trainer Michelle Nevin and owner Vincent Scuderi. Last out, she won by a nose in a thrilling finish to the Ruthless after being bumped at the start. She will be making her first start going two turns since a second-place finish in the Grade 3 Tempted on November 2 at the Big A.

Switching to jockey Angel Arroyo, Paulassilverlining sits at 3-1 on the morning line from post 2.

Owner Mike Repole and trainer Todd Pletcher will be represented Overprepared. A $310,000 purchase at the March Ocala Breeders Sale, the 3-year-old Quality Road filly made her debut a winning on October 19 at Belmont and next ran in the Smart Halo stakes at Laurel Park to finish third after being checked at the eighth pole. In her last start, her first at two turns, she remained on the lead throughout to win the $100,000 Busanda at by 1¼-lengths.

Overprepared, 6-1 on the morning line, will depart from post 4 with Kendrick Carmouche in the irons.

Jockey Cornelio Velasquez will return in the saddle for Liberty Island. Second to Overprepared in the Busanda, the Dominick Schettino-trained filly is making her third career start and leaves from post 5 at 10-1 on the morning line.