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Condo Commando draws off in Gazelle

Condo Commando earned her third straight stakes score in the Gazelle (NYRA/Dave Alcosser/Adam Coglianese Photography) Michael Dubb, Bethlehem Stables LLC and The Elkstone Group LLC's Condo Commando (Tiz Wonderful) prevailed by 2 1/2 lengths on the wire of Saturday's $300,000 Gazelle S. (G2) at Aqueduct with jockey Joel Rosario in the saddle to set herself up as a possible favorite for the May 1 Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs. "She's a very nice filly," trainer Rudy Rodriguez said. "I don't know if (she'll be favored in the Kentucky Oaks), but hopefully we can make it. It's still a long way to go. Hopefully, she stays sound and we take it from there. That's our goal." "She's just the real deal and I hope people realize that now," Dubb said. "They said she had to have the lead, but Puca came through, and that was no problem for our filly. "I don't want to sound too much like a cheerleader, but I'm a proud papa." Facing real opposition for the first time since last October, the dark bay filly asserted herself early to set the pace after Puca (Big Brown) rushed forward to take the lead from her rail post. Rosario allowed Condo Commando to settle just outside that rival at first, but the filly would have no part of it and quickly passed Puca to take over entering the backstretch.

Condo Command held a comfortable advantage following splits of :48 and 1:13 2/5, but Jacaranda (Congrats), Noble and a Beauty (Noble Causeway) and Wonder Gal (Tiz Wonderful) all ranged up to her outside entering the turn while Puca bided her time just in behind the leader on the rail.

Each one of that quartet put in her best run, but Condo Commando pulled away from her rivals to finish 1 1/8 miles on the fast main track in 1:52. Returning $3.30 to her multitude of supporters as the 3-5 favorite in the seven-filly field, she earned 100 points toward a guaranteed starting berth in the Oaks, adding it to the 61 points she brought into the race.

"I was surprised to see (Puca) going with me early," Rosario admitted. "I didn't know how fast we were going but it seemed like a good pace. I just sat quiet on the outside for a little bit to see what (Manuel Franco on Puca) would do. When he took back, I went (to the front)."

Puca took second by 2 3/4 lengths to earn 40 points and now shows a total of 45 points. Money'soncharlotte (Mizzen Mast), who hit the rail entering the stretch, finished third but is not nominated to the Oaks. Wonder Gal moved up a bit on the Oaks leaderboard, adding 10 points to her previous total of six points for finishing fourth.

Condo Commando is now two-for-two this year, having captured the Busher S. in her three-year-old bow on February 21. Prior to that the Rodriguez trainee posted an 11-length romp in the Demoiselle S. (G2), which followed her first and only career loss when fourth in the Frizette S. (G1) at Belmont Park. The dark bay miss opened her career with a pair of double-digit length wins, including the Spinaway S. (G1), at Saratoga.

Now boasting a 6-5-0-0 mark, Condo Commando has accumulated $748,600 in lifetime earnings, more than earning back her $72,000 purchase price as a Keeneland September yearling.

Bred in Kentucky by Spendthrift Farms, Condo Commando is out of the multiple Grade 2 winner Yearly Report (General Meeting), making her a half-sister to Grade 2-placed Checklist (Gone West). The filly's extended female family includes Group 1 hero, Irish classic-placed and Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) third Brief Truce (Irish River) as well as multiple Canadian champion Dance Act (Northern Dancer).

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