The $100,000 Cicada Stakes for three year-old fillies has drawn a field of six Sunday, March 15 at Aqueduct in the six furlong sprint.
Noble and a Beauty is the 2/1 morning line favorite for trainer Richard Violette after finishing second in the Ruthless Stakes January 4 at Aqueduct in just her second career start. In her debut, the daughter of Noble Causeway defeated maiden special weight company at Aqueduct. Noble and a Beauty will break from post four under jockey Jose Ortiz.
Trainer James Jerkens will saddle the 5/2 second choice Hard to Stay Notgo, who has captured two of four career starts including the Franklin Square Stakes February 1 at Aqueduct. Hard to Stay Notgo is a daughter of More Than Ready, and has competed exclusively in stakes races after breaking her maiden at first-asking August 6 at Saratoga. Since then, Hard to Stay Notgo finished second in the Seeking the Ante Stakes at Saratoga and third in the Joeseph A. Gimma Stakes at Belmont before capturing the Franklin Square. Jockey Angel Arroyo gets the call breaking from the rail.
7/2 shot Lindisfarne has won three of five career starts for trainer Gustavo Rodriguez including the Marshua Stakes in her last outing January 29 at Laurel Park. Lindisfarne will seek her third consecutive victory in the Cicada. Jockey Victor Carrasco will be in the irons breaking from post three.
The Grade 2 $1.25 million Pennsylvania Derby features the two biggest names from the Triple Crown trail September 24 at Parx as a field of 12 gathers in one of the most intriguing betting races of the year.
The $1 million Cotillion Stakes September 24 at Parx features a true clash of the titans as the six-horse field is headlined by the undefeated, five-time grade 1 winner Songbird who figures to face the most stern challenge of her career.
In a completely wide open renewal of the Presque Isle Mile September 18 at Presque Isle Downs, 13 runners including the also-eligible will contest the eight furlong trip over synthetic footing.
Champion Songbird is set to make her much-anticipated return to the races in the $200,000 Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita on Saturday. The Grade 2 event will be run at a mile and a sixteenth and has attracted a field of seven.
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