Chelsea Durand Photo

Stonesintheroad seeks clear path versus open company in Cicada

by Najja Thompson

Team Penney Racing's New York-bred Stonesintheroad, undefeated in three starts, will face open company against a talented field of eight in the $100,000 Cicada for 3-year-old fillies going six furlongs on Saturday at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Stonesintheroad, a Bustin Stones filly, impressively won her debut by four lengths against fellow state-breds on December 30 at Aqueduct. The homebred posted a successful start to her 2019 campaign with an optional-claiming win on February 3 and improved to 3-for-3 with a 3 ¾ length win in the Franklin Square on February 23 in her stakes debut.

Stepping up against open company for the Cicada, trainer Jeremiah Englehart said he is looking to use the race as a barometer to gauge Stonesintheroad's ability.

"Following her win in the Franklin Square, she really came out of that race well, and we wanted to give her a try against open company," said Englehart. "We want to test her ability to see where she stands against other 3-year-old fillies in the country. She's certainly trained well enough and performed well enough against state-breds, so we're deciding to take our shot."

Rajiv Maragh, who has been aboard for all three of her starts, will have the return call from post 2.

Trainer Todd Pletcher will enter a pair of formidable contenders in Guacamole for Repole Stable, and Two Dozen Roses, for owners Harrell Ventures LLC.

Sired by multiple graded stakes winner Flat Out, Guacamole began her juvenile campaign with promise, finishing third in the Grade 2 Adirondack at Saratoga Race Course and fifth in the Grade 3 Matron in October at Belmont Park.

She opened her 2019 account in her first start of the year, winning an optional-claiming race on February 22 at Aqueduct by 1 ¾ lengths.

Two Dozen Roses, a Super Saver filly purchased for $200,000 as a yearling at the Keeneland September Sale, capped her juvenile season with a third-place finish in an optional claiming race on November 29 at Laurel Park. She graduated at second asking on August 19, by disqualification, at Saratoga and two starts back captured an optional-claiming sprint at Laurel. She enters the Cicada from a fifth-place running in the Wide Country on February 16 at the Maryland oval.

Guacamole will leave from post 6 with Dylan Davis. Two Dozen Roses will have the services of Chris DeCarlo from post 7.

New York-bred Forgotten Hero, trained and part-owned by John Toscano, Jr. with Charles E. Festa Jr., won her debut by 5 ½ lengths on November 4 and returned to win the NYSSS Fifth Avenue on December 15. Most recently, sent off as the 8-5 post-time in the Franklin Square, Forgotten Hero finished sixth after encountering trouble at the start.

Toscano said he is hoping she will have a smoother trip in her return.

"She got bumped leaving the gate last time," said Toscano. "I guess that accounted for the poor performance. She's pretty quick and hopefully she'll recover from that effort and we'll get her rolling again."

Forgotten Hero will depart from post 3 with Mike Luzzi in the irons.

Rounding out the field is Miss Imperial for trainer Jason Servis and owners Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables LLC, David Simon, Bethlehem Stables, and Susan Montanye; Workaholic for owner James McIngvale and trainer Laura Wohlers; Fangirl for trainer John Terranova and Curragh Stables; and Gracetown for trainer Michelle Nevin and Rand M Throughbreds.

The Cicada is slated as Race 8 on Saturday's nine-race program. First post is 1:30 p.m.