Miss Brazil Wins Scratch-Shortened Ruthless

OZONE PARK, NY – Team D’s Miss Brazil made quick work of the scratch-shortened field, winning gate to wire in Monday’s $100,000 Ruthless Stakes at Aqueduct.

Miss Brazil made every pole a winning one after breaking from the rail as the 2/5 favorite under Eric Cancel. The Tony Dutrow trainee completed the 7-furlong fast dirt sprint in 1:24.92 while defeating runner-up Gulf Coast by 6 1/4 lengths.

“I wanted to be on the lead to dictate the pace and take it from there,” Cancel said. “She’s a very honest filly, so I didn’t have any doubts about her today. She’s pretty straightforward and I had plenty of gas in the tank. I just wanted to give her a good ride and it worked out well.”

Dealing Justice gave up halfway through and was eased across to complete the order of finish in the race restricted to 3-year-old fillies.

It Can and Little Huntress scratched; both entered the race before snowstorms required delaying the entire Aqueduct Sunday card.

Miss Brazil broke her maiden here in late November in her second career start after finishing third on debut over the Belmont Park lawn a month prior.

“She’s been very good in all 3 of her races,” said Dutrow, who also mentioned that the Busher Stakes (a Kentucky Oaks [G1] prep race here on March 6) is likely her next target. “Both her maiden win and today shows plenty. She’s always promised to be a nicer kind of filly, so getting her ready for this race was easy. She’s a better kind of horse and she does it all.”

The daughter of Palace Malice returned $2.90 to win. There was no place or show betting.