Noble and a Beauty stays sprinting in Cicada

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – In a perfect world, trainer Rick Violette would have run Noble and a Beauty around two turns by now. In the imperfect world that is horse racing, Noble and a Beauty will be making her third start sprinting in Sunday’s $100,000 Cicada Stakes at Aqueduct.

In the end, however, it may turn out to be the perfect spot.

A maiden winner in her debut and a nose loser in the Ruthless Stakes two months ago, Noble and a Beauty looks well spotted in the Cicada, a six-furlong race that drew a field of six 3-year-old fillies.

Violette was pointing Noble and a Beauty to the Busher Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile race around two turns Feb. 21. But Noble and a Beauty came down with a temperature that forced her to miss some training and, thus, the race.

“Sometimes, especially with the winter that we’ve had, you have to play the cards you’re dealt,” Violette said.

Since missing the Busher, Noble and a Beauty has breezed three times, including a solid half-mile in 48.88 seconds Tuesday.

“She’s trained really well, and given her pedigree, if she were to win a listed stakes, it would be significant,” said Violette, who trains the daughter of Noble Causeway for Len Riggio’s My Meadowview Farm.

Hard to Stay Notgo, who won the Franklin Square Stakes in front-running fashion Feb. 1, and Lindisfarne, who has gone 2 for 2 since coming to the Rudy Rodriguez barn, including a win in the Marshua Stakes at Laurel on Jan. 29, top the competition.

Eloquent Tribute, Spotted Heart, and Overprepared complete the field.

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Key contenders

Noble and a Beauty (Last 2 Beyers: 80-78)

A front-running winner of her debut over the main track, she was beaten only a nose by the Grade 2 winner Paulassilverlining in the Ruthless Stakes on Jan. 4 while finishing 6 1/2 lengths clear of the field.

“A nice horse beat us and cut the corner while we were three or four deep around the turn,” Violette said. “She ran terrific. We would have only been happier if she could have won it.”

There appears to be plenty of early speed for her to stalk with Hard to Stay Notgo and Eloquent Tribute in the field.

Hard to Stay Notgo (Last 3 Beyers: 84-52-53)

After scratching out of a claiming race in January, she galloped to a 5 1/2-length score in the Franklin Square Stakes, earning a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 84. Connections indicate she’s only improved since that race.

“Her two works since that stakes win have been absolutely stellar,” said Steve Moyer, the New York-based assistant to trainer Jimmy Jerkens.

Lindisfarne (Last 3 Beyers: 80-65-64)

Has won both of her starts since moving east into the barn of Rodriguez.

Came from off the pace in both starts, including the Marshua Stakes.

Will be saddled by Gustavo Rodriguez, who is subbing for his suspended brother, Rudy.