Mud could slow down Bickersons

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Kelly Breen likes how everything is shaping up for his multiple-stakes-winning filly Bickersons entering Saturday's Grade 3, $100,000 Cicada at Aqueduct. Everything, that is, except the forecast.

With heavy rain expected to pelt the New York City area Friday and Saturday, Aqueduct's inner track could come up sloppy for the Cicada, in which Bickersons is listed as the 7-5 morning line favorite. Bickersons made her career debut over a muddy track at Monmouth Park last summer, and she finished fifth of six as the 4-5 favorite under regular rider Joe Bravo. Breen said he isn't sure whether it was the track or just the fact it was her first race.

"I talked to Bravo about it," Breen said Thursday morning. "He thought it was a little bit of first-time-out jitters. He's pushing me to run. I have to talk to [owner] George Hall about it, see what he says. I don't know if it was the track or what. It could come into consideration because, other than the track, I think she looks awfully good in this spot."

Bickersons is running back two weeks after finishing fourth in the one-mile Davona Dale at Gulfstream. Breen said he has been happy with the way Bickersons has bounced back from that race. Before the Davona Dale, Bickersons won the Grade 2 Forward Gal by seven lengths at Gulfstream.

Her speed figures to put her in the game from the outset under Bravo from post 8.

Liam's Dream and Romantic Hideaway finished third and fourth behind Bickersons in the Forward Gal. While Romantic Hideaway appeared to enjoy a nice trip in the Forward Gal, trainer Greg Sacco said the race wasn't originally on her schedule. Coming off a two-length victory in the Brandywine Stakes at Philadelphia Park on Dec. 28, Romantic Hideaway was given two weeks off on the farm before shipping to south Florida. Sacco said it was a "last-minute decision" to go in the Davona Dale.

Romantic Hideaway has six weeks from the Forward Gal to this race, and she cuts back to a six-furlong distance at which she is 2 for 2. Romantic Hideaway shipped in early enough to record a best-of-18 half-mile breeze over the inner track Sunday, and she has already won over a wet surface.

"We're coming into this race as good as we can be," Sacco said.

Donna Getyourgun, Female Drama, and Fuzzy Britches are other contenders in this field.