Overprepared returns to sprint ranks in Cicada

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Overprepared, who had mixed results in two stakes races going long this winter, will shorten up to six furlongs in Sunday’s $100,000 Cicada Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Aqueduct.

Overprepared won her debut going six furlongs last October at Belmont before finishing a troubled third in the Smart Halo Stakes at Laurel on Nov. 15. In her first try at two turns, Overprepared won the Busanda Stakes at a mile and 70 yards on Jan. 16. Most recently, however, Overprepared finished fifth, beaten 29 lengths, in the Busher Stakes at 1 1/16 miles.

“She broke her maiden well going six furlongs, ran decent in the stake at Laurel when she didn’t break well,” said trainer Todd Pletcher, who was at Belmont on Thursday morning. “She won the one stake through soft fractions going long. Off her last race, we thought backing her up might make sense.”

Since the Busher, Overprepared has worked a half-mile in 48.66 seconds with blinkers, equipment she will wear in a race for the first time Sunday.

Pletcher said Overprepared seemed more focused in blinkers, according to his New York assistant Byron Hughes.

“Time was good,” Pletcher said. “She’s generally been kind of an idle, lazy workhorse.”

In the Cicada, Overprepared will meet Eloquent Tribute, Hard to Stay Notgo, Lindisfarne, Noble and a Beauty, and Spotted Heart.