Liam's Dream comes home strong in the Cicada.
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Riding with a purpose, jockey Anna Rose Napravnik guided Liam's Dream through a narrow opening on the rail to win the $100,000 Cicada Stakes (gr. III) (VIDEO) March 20 at Aqueduct. It was the first graded stakes score for both horse and rider.
After checking the 3-year-old St. Liam filly at the start, Napravnik saved ground on the turn and got through inside of Southern Truth, edging away to hit the wire 1 1/2 lengths in front of Romantic Hideaway. Liam’s Dream covered six furlongs in 1:10.10 over the fast inner track.
“In the stretch, when she came through on the rail, she really fired,” Napravnik said. “She was very, very game today.”
Of her first graded stakes win, the rider added: “It seems over the past few years I’ve been guaranteed to be third in every graded stakes I’ve ridden. It’s good to get the first one.”
Liam’s Dream, who is owned by Mr. and Mrs. William K. Warren Jr., was third in the grade II Forward Gal at Gulfstream Park Jan. 31 after winning her first two starts in maiden and allowance company at Philadelphia Park late last year. She ran her record to 3-0-1 from four starts and boosted her earnings to $149,760.
“She’s always been a reliable filly,” said trainer Tony Dutrow by phone from Florida. “I really felt good throughout the entire race today. I’m really not sure what’s next for her, but she’ll stay in New York now, she likes it there.”
The winner is out of the Rubiano mare Danzig’s Dreamer. She was bred Karen S. Farrar and Gary M. Farrar.
Sent off as the third choice at 5-1, Liam’s Dream returned $13.60, $6.70, and $6.40.
Longshot Indian Burn rallied late for third and Fuzzy Britches, Southern Truth, Bickersons, and Female Drama completed the order of finish.
