Rodriguez has three in Cicada Stakes

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – For the second time this winter, trainer Rudy Rodriguez is applying the strength-in-numbers philosophy when it comes to a stakes race for 3-year-old filly sprinters at Aqueduct.

In January, Rodriguez had three of the six runners in the Ruthless, a race he won with Strategic Dreams while also running third and fifth with Danyelli and Wall of Compassion.

Rodriguez on Sunday will send out Strategic Dreams, Danyelli, and Lezendary in a field of seven 3-year-old fillies entered to run in the $100,000 Cicada Stakes. The Cicada, like the Ruthless, is a six-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies.

Strategic Dreams has not run since winning the Ruthless, her third consecutive victory and fourth from five career starts. Rodriguez said that Strategic Dreams lost some weight as a result of her efforts in the Ruthless and Gin Talking at Laurel four weeks prior and was given a brief freshening.

“Right now, it looks like she’s doing everything we’re asking,” Rodriguez said. “Thank God, she’s nice and sound.”

Lezendary makes her first start since winning a maiden race here by 5 1/4 lengths on Jan. 14. That was her first race with blinkers on. Rodriguez said the blinkers were suggested by Irad Ortiz Jr., who had ridden Lezendary on Dec. 3, when she finished fifth of six.

“Irad told me the day he rode her she was very, very green; you can see she was all over the place,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez added that the day Lezendary won, “she broke very alertly with Trevor [McCarthy], he put her in the race early. This race is three-quarters, there is no reason to take her back.”

Danyelli, Rodriguez’s third entrant, set the pace when breaking from the rail in the Ruthless. She has the rail again Sunday – the fourth consecutive race she has started from that post.

Aunt Babe, a two-time restricted stakes winner, would appreciate a contested pace, which she may get with the presence of Danyelli and Gibby, a supplemental nominee from the Scott Lake barn.

KEY CONTENDERS

Strategic Dreams, by Archarcharch
Last 3 Beyers: 63-74-73

◗ Her lone loss from five starts came in the Grade 1 Frizette, a race in which she found herself embroiled in a speed duel.

◗ Shied a bit in the stretch from a left-handed whip but was quickly corrected by Manny Franco in drawing off to victory in the Ruthless.

◗ Is 3 for 3 over a fast track.

Lezendary, by Zensational
Last 3 Beyers: 80-46-73

◗ Responded with career-best effort with blinkers added winning a maiden race here Jan. 14.

◗ Could be a pace factor under McCarthy.

Gibby, by Tizway
Last 3 Beyers: 50-81-82

◗ Supplemental nominee makes 3-year-old debut after going 2 for 5 last year.

◗ Only two bad races were at Laurel Park, a surface trainer Scott Lake believes Gibby “struggled with.”

◗ Was pointed to two stakes at Turfway Park but missed them due to a temperature and then to missed training due to track condition at Parx Racing.

◗ Breaking from post 6 should give jockey Kendrick Carmouche options to put her on the lead or stalk.

Enticed works toward Wood

Enticed, the Gotham winner, worked four furlongs in 49.60 seconds Friday morning at the Palm Meadows training center in South Florida as he continues preparation for a start in the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial here April 7.

Enticed worked in company with the 3-year-old filly Take Charge Paula, who is running in next Saturday’s Grade 2, $300,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks.

“They both need company,” McLaughlin said.

McLaughlin noted that Enticed worked slowly by himself two weeks before the Gotham before coming back with a solid in-company work the week before the race.

McLaughlin said Enticed would work again next Friday at Palm Meadows before shipping to New York on April 4.