Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Contact: Ashley Herriman
(718) 659-2218
IT’S HARD TO QUIBBLE WITH BICKERSONS IN CICADA
The dark bay daughter of Silver Deputy was dominant in the Grade 2, seven-furlong Forward Gal stakes at Gulfstream Park two starts back on January 31, winning by seven lengths and defeating 2009 2-year-old filly champion She Be Wild, who finished fifth. Bickersons earned a career best Beyer Speed Figure of 97 in the Forward Gal.
Attempting a mile in her last outing, the Grade 2 Davona Dale on February 27 over the same oval, Bickersons set the pace and tired to finish fourth as the favorite.
“She didn’t run well at a mile, but she came out of the race in good order and we think she’s good to go,” said Kelly Breen, who trains the filly for George and Lori Hall. “There’s plenty of gas in there – if not on the lead, I think she’ll be up close. She doesn’t necessarily have to go to the front.”
While unproven at the Cicada distance of six furlongs, Bickersons ran in fine company as a juvenile and has shown versatility on both artificial surfaces and dirt at distances ranging from five furlongs to 1 1/16th miles. Installed as the 7-5 morning line favorite, she will break from the far outside with jockey Joe Bravo in the irons.
Bickersons will take on two seasoned inner track rivals in Fuzzy Britches and Indian Burn.
Fuzzy Britches, breaking from post position No. 5 beneath Channing Hill on Saturday, is 2-for-2 over the Big A oval at the Cicada distance and exits a half-length victory in the Dearly Precious Stakes on Valentine’s Day.
Indian Burn, fourth in the Dearly Precious and winner of the six-furlong Ruthless here on January 10, will also step up to challenge Bickersons in her first foray into graded stakes company.
“It’s a tough race, but she’s doing well and we hope she steps up,” said trainer John Hertler. “There’s a lot of speed in there, and that works to our advantage.”
The Indian Charlie filly owns a 2-0-1 record from four starts and again gets the services of Richard Migliore, who has been aboard for her past two starts.
Returning to
Female Drama has made just one start this year, in the Grade 3 Old Hat in the slop at Gulfstream on January 9. She was bumped and had to steady at the start, never reaching contention and finishing tenth.
“She’s shown us a lot of ability and came up in good shape,” said Jonathan Thomas, assistant to trainer Todd Pletcher. “While she set the pace in her first two starts, I think she has the ability to sit off of it if need be.”
David Cohen will ride from post No. 3.
Also recently arrived from
Donna Getyourgun, a supplemental entry who exits an allowance win at Gulfstream on January 31, and Seaside Fortune, also a recent allowance winner, complete the field.
The field for the Grade 3, $100,000 Cicada:
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Wgt | Trainer | Odds |
| 1 | Romantic Hideaway (KY) | M G Pino | 120 | G D Sacco | 8-1 |
| 2 | Donna Getyourgun (KY) | A R Napravnik | 118 | I R Wilkes | 6-1 |
| 3 | Female Drama (KY) | D Cohen | 118 | T A Pletcher | 9-2 |
| 4 | Liam’s Dream (PA) | C C Lopez | 118 | A | 4-1 |
| 5 | Fuzzy Britches (KY) | C Hill | 120 | R E Dutrow, Jr. | 12-1 |
| 6 | | F Jara | 118 | R Preciado | 15-1 |
| 7 | Indian Burn (KY) | R Migliore | 118 | J O Hertler | 20-1 |
| 8 | Bickersons (ON) | J Bravo | 122 | K J Breen | 7-5 |
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