Status Seeker rallies to break her maiden on debut June 2 at Belmont Park (Chelsea Durand)
NYRA Press Office
ELMONT, N.Y.— Parkland Thoroughbreds, Robert Cotrone, Israel Chavez and trainer Rudy Rodriguez’s debut maiden winner Status Seeker will make a jump up to graded level for her first start against winners in Thursday’s Grade 3, $175,000 Schuylerville, a six-furlong sprint for juvenile fillies, at Saratoga Race Course.
The dark bay Upstart filly landed a gutsy half-length score at first asking in a June 2 maiden tilt sprinting five furlongs at Belmont Park, pouncing from just off the pace under Joel Rosario when swung three-wide in the turn to run down Permed in the stretch and complete the course in 59.73 seconds. She was awarded a 48 Beyer Speed Figure for the victory.
“Not really,” Rodriguez said when asked if he was expecting the filly to win on debut. “Sometimes with the babies it’s just a matter of how they break and handle it, and she looked like she handled everything professional. She was stuck down on the inside and she got the kickback, but she was very, very professional. It’s good to see.”
Status Seeker has worked over the Belmont main track four times since her debut, most recently working a half-mile in company in 51 seconds flat on Friday.
“She had a nice, easy work on Friday and so far, so good,” said Rodriguez. “She went half a mile on the inside and galloped out in 1:03. She worked nice.”
Bred in Kentucky by Brereton C. Jones, Status Seeker was purchased for $45,000 by Rodriguez at this year’s OBS March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training and has already seen his filly return her purchase price, and more, after she earned $49,500 for her maiden coup. Out of the dual-winning Magna Graduate mare Casual Cocktail, Status Seeker is a half-sister to Bourbon Frontier, a five-time winner of over $160,000.
Status Seeker will exit post 4 in rein to Rosario in an 11-horse field that includes Astoria-winner Closing Act for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen and impressive debut winner Wine On Tap for Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher.
The Schuylerville is slated as Race 9 [5:44 p.m. Eastern] on Thursday’s 10-race Opening Day card. First post is 1:10 p.m.
