Bohemian Lady, rebounding from her first career defeat at 4-5 in the Dearly Precious Stakes at Aqueduct on Feb. 14, made mincemeat of five other 3-year-old fillies in yesterday’s Grade 3, $100,000 Cicada Stakes, winning by 6½ lengths under Edgar Prado. Trained by Todd Pletcher, the daughter of Carson City paid $5.10 as the second choice after running seven furlongs in 1:23.1. California invader Whoopi Cat, the even-money favorite, was second. Among My Souvenirs was scratched because of an infected foot.
1ST RACE – First-time Lasix often points out live longshots; so does blinkers on; Two My Son’s, making second start after trailing home distant eighth in debut, had both. Up-and-coming bug boy Fernando Jara gunned him to lead, opened up daylight into turn, drilled half in :45.1, got rubber-legged in final furlong but still held on to score at $22. Very, very odd betting on 5-year-old maiden Augusttown Maxi, 30-1 on morning line after finishing far back in all three starts, beaten average 23 lengths at 52-1 and up. Added Lasix for this off bullet work, was favored five minutes to post, went off 6-1 under Rodney Soodeen, rallied for second. Gulfstream shipper Core Sample, favored at 2-1, was close early, began to drop back leaving backside, Edgar Prado went to whip on turn, briefly surged back into contention but was no factor late.
3RD RACE – Gulfstream shipper Storm Minstrel, daughter of Storm Cat from Mark Hennig barn, finally broke her maiden after finishing second four times in first seven starts, going gate-to-wire at 3-5 under Prado. First-time starter Bush’s Song walked out of gate, rallied strongly while very wide on turn, flattened out. Look for blinkers, Lasix next time out.
4TH RACE – House Key, favored at 8-5 making first start since September, saved ground drafting in behind dueling longshots Trading Hours, Dynomynt, swung out for racing room top of stretch, but lacked needed late kick as 2-1 Scooty came rolling by down center of track. In much-improved effort, Trading Hours hung tough down stretch, just missed holding off House Key for place.
5TH RACE – Even-money Elyon collared Thirdown Call midstretch, looked like easy winner, never could get by in long stretch battle, is now beaten favorite in three straight. Meanwhile Mr. V., Norberto Arroyo Jr. up, rallied up rail to beat them both at 9-1, to dismay of many Pick 6 players chasing 120G carryover.
6TH RACE – More Pick 6 tickets went up in flames as 9-1 Snub The Devil scooted away to daylight lead down backside under Javier Castellano, easily held off late charge of 3-5 choice Cherokee Spook, another Gulfstream shipper from Hennig barn.
PICK SIX
Winning numbers: 4-3-5-3-3-5
2 winners each receives $202,554
86 consolation (5 of 6) winners
each receives $1,104
No carryover.
