Lion D N A Roars in Skipat
Joel Rosario picked up the mount on Lion D N A this morning. A few hours later, he drove her to victory in the $100,000 Skipat Stakes, a six-furlong test for fillies and mares.
Michael Dubb, Bethlehem Stables and Gary Aisquith own the 5-year old daughter of Lion Heart, who is trained by Rudy Rodriguez at Aqueduct. Lion DNA and Rosario raced in third much of the way, tracking a head-to-head duel between Flattering Bea and post-time favorite Winning Image. She caught them nearing the finish and completed the distance in 1:11.09 over the sloppy going. Flattering Bea finished second, three-quarters of a length behind the winner, while Winning Image was third.
Lion DNA paid $11.20. The Skipat score was her third stakes victory for Rodriquez in her last five starts, having annexed both the Interborough and Correction Handicaps this winter at her home base.
SKIPAT STAKES QUOTES
Winning owner Gary Asquith (Lion D N A):
“The shorter field really helped. My horse relishes the slop. It’s a
wet track today. The race set up perfectly for us, because there was
speed up front. That helped us out and gave us a shot in the last half
furlong.”
Winning Jockey Joel Rosario (Lion D N A): “I tried to send her a little bit. I just let her sail and let her make the one run. It took some time to get her in the race. If I would have let her drop back.”