Dixie Talking surprises in Cicada

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Dixie Talking charged down the center of the track to upset the Grade 3, $109,800 at Aqueduct by 1 1/4 lengths over Acey Deucey. It was another 1 1/4 lengths back in third to Alfonsina.

Dixie Talking, who had won her first two starts, was sent off at 27-1 coming off a fifth-place finish in the Wide Country Stakes at Laurel last month. But her trainer, Robin Graham, said there was a reason for her poor performance that day.

"She had a reaction to the Lasix last time, that's what happened to her," Graham said. "Her electrolytes were imbalanced."

Dixie Talking entered the Cicada with a pair of bullet workouts, including one on Lasix, which convinced Graham that she would be fine.

Graham had another concern, however, when jockey Norberto Arroyo Jr. took off his last two mounts complaining of stomach pains. Alan Garcia picked up the mount and rode to instructions.

As expected, Megascape broke on top and set fractions of 22.77 seconds and 45.05 while being pressed by Take a Check and Alfonsina. Alfonsina, the 11-10 favorite, took a short lead in upper stretch, but had little left to hold off the closing pair of Dixie Talking and Acey Deucey.

Dixie Talking struck the front inside the eighth pole and was able to outfinish Acey Deucey, who was coming in off a win in the Dearly Precious Stakes. A daughter of Dixieland Band, Dixie Talking covered the seven furlongs in 1:23.04 and returned $56.50. Her victory helped trigger a pick-six carryover of $68,250 heading into Wednesday's card.

Graham said she would look to run Dixie Talking in the Country Life Farm Stakes at Pimlico on April 23 and then the Black-Eyed Susan, also at Pimlico, on May 20.