As far as racing attention goes this weekend, all the focus will be centered around a highly competitive running of the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park and a rematch between Champion, Blind Luck, and her arch nemesis, Havre de Grace, in the Azeri Stakes (gr.3), also at Oaklawn Park this Saturday. While the celebrated Arkansas track will host the two biggest races of the weekend there will also be some minor in California and New York that could influence the Kentucky Oaks lineup. Santa Anita will host the 6 ½ furlong Santa Paula Stakes on Sunday while Aqueduct kicks things off on Saturday with the Cicada Stakes (gr.3).Examining the field for the 19th running of the Cicada Stakes it seems unlikely the outcome of this 6 furlong race will have any kind of major impact on the Kentucky Oaks trail.
Seven 3-year-old fillies are entered and morning line favoritism falls to the Kiaran McLaughlin trained In Step who enters off a solid ½ length maiden win at Gulfstream Park on February 20th. McLaughlin has decided to sway from his preferred training regimen with the 3-year-old daughter of Unbridled’s Song by placing her in the Grade 3 Cicada Stakes before testing softer competition in an allowance race. Her maiden victory was the only start of In Step’s career. She was purchased for $1 million at the 2009 Keenland September Yearling Sale.
Dream appears to have the best form entering the Cicada undefeated in two starts by a combined 10 ¾ lengths in a maiden race and an optional allowance claimer. She had a small bone chip removed last year after her maiden win and according to trainer Rodney Jenkins she won the Laurel Park optional claiming race by 6 lengths while only....[Read the Complete Post Here on Horse Racing Nation]
Love DREAM in here...she hasn't found her ceiling nor has she ever been in a real fight. She along with ROMAN TREASURE and IN STEP have the breeding to become high class fillies in time. Today is an important step for them.
ReplyDeleteGreat reading!