On Sunday at Aqueduct, the featured race is the $100,000 Cicada Stakes. Restricted to three-year-old fillies and scheduled to be run on the inner dirt track, the six-furlong contest has drawn a field of six.
Rick Violette, Jr. will saddle the morning line favorite, Noble and a Beauty, at odds of 2-1. A homebred daughter of Noble Causeway for owners My Meadowview Farm, the chestnut filly broke her maiden in her career debut at Aqueduct in November. Last time out, she finished second and was beaten only a nose in the Ruthless Stakes. Jose Ortiz will be in the irons and they will break from post position four as she goes for her first stakes win.
Second choice at 5-2 on the morning line is Hard to Stay Notgo for trainer James Jerkens. A New York-bred daughter of More Than Ready, she will be making her first start against open company after competing exclusively against state-bred competition. She has been on the board in all four starts and was last seen winning the Franklin Square Stakes in her sophomore debut. Angel Arroyo will be aboard and they will break from the rail.
Also in the field at morning line odds of 8-1 is Overprepared for trainer Todd Pletcher. A bay daughter of Quality Road owned by Repole Stable, she has won two of her four career starts and earned the first stakes victory of her career in January in the Busanda Stakes. Last time out, she finished fifth in the Busher Stakes around two turns and will cut back to a sprint. Kendrick Carmouche will retain the mount and they will break from the outside post.
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.
Pennsylvania Derby Picks and Preview
23 September 2016The 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....
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