Undefeated Agave Kiss, freshened after winning the Ruthless Stakes in January, will be heavily favored to win her graded stakes debut in the $150,000 Cicada (gr. III) March 10 at Aqueduct.
The Cicada, a six-furlong sprint for 3-year-old fillies, will be the fourth race on a 10-race card that will also feature the $100,000 Fred “Cappy” Capossela.
Agave Kiss began her career against New York-breds, breaking her maiden by 6 1/4 lengths in October at Belmont Park and scoring by 10 1/2 lengths in an Aqueduct allowance in December. In the Ruthless, the speedy filly maintained a safe lead throughout and tallied by 3 1/4 lengths.
With an eye on grade I races like the $300,000 Prioress and $500,000 Test at Saratoga in August, trainer Rudy Rodriguez decided to bypass Aqueduct’s Dearly Precious and await the Cicada with Agave Kiss.
“We just wanted keep her fresh,” said Rodriguez. “We thought about running her, but it’s a long year and hopefully this will be good for her. We think she’s growing, so we think this was a good thing to do. We like her a lot, so we’re going to treat her like a good horse. She looks good and we’re very, very happy with the way she is right now.”
Ryan Curatolo, regular rider for owner Flying Zee Stables, will ride Agave Kiss, the 3-5 morning-line favorite.
William J. Punk Jr.’s Corderosa rolled by 5 1/4 lengths at first asking at Aqueduct in December, then was third, beaten by 4 3/4 lengths by Agave Kiss, in the Ruthless. The David Donk trainee enters the race having finished second by a neck against three opponents in the Dearly Precious.
Junior Alvarado has the assignment aboard Corderosa, the 2-1 morning-line second choice.
The field also includes Alydarla, second in the Madcap Escapade on turf at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 12; Nitara, a four-length debut winner on Feb. 5 at Aqueduct; and Princess Reyana, second in a claiming race on March 1.
$150,000 Cicada Stakes (gr. III, Race 4, 2:22 p.m.), 3YO Fillies, 6 Furlongs (Inner dirt)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Alydarla (KY), D Cohen, 118, J K Chapman
2. Agave Kiss (NY), R Curatolo, 122, R R Rodriguez
3. Nitara (KY), C H Velasquez, 118, E R Reed
4. Princess Reyana (NY), S Camacho Jr., 118, G C Contessa
5. Corderosa (KY), J Alvarado, 118, D G Donk