OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Paradise Farms Corp. and David Staudacher’s Lady Scarlet notched her first career stakes victory in Saturday’s $100,000 Cicada, a six-furlong sprint for sophomore fillies at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Trained by Mike Maker, the Kentucky-bred daughter of Union Rags entered off a close victory in an optional claiming sprint on February 26 at Oaklawn Park where she stalked the pace in third before rallying home to a half-length victory.
Lady Scarlet broke alertly from the outermost post 6 with Kendrick Carmouche up and settled in behind the pace set by the Eric Cancel-piloted Lady Milagro. Lady Scarlet tracked in third down the backstretch to the outside of Monshun while Lady Milagro recorded splits of 22.19 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 45.73 for the half-mile over the fast main track.
Lady Scarlet made up ground in the five-path entering the turn as the Dylan Davis-piloted Monshun came under a ride. With Lady Milagro tiring to her inside, Lady Scarlet came away with the advantage at the top of the lane and continued to find more down the center of the track, sprinting away to a 4 3/4 length score in a final time of 1:11.17.
Monshun held place honors by 4 1/2 lengths ahead of the late-closing Rosebug, who was compromised at the start. Lady Milagro, Sweet Solare and Exxaltress completed the order of finish.
Carmouche, who rode Lady Scarlet for the first time, said the outside post position was helpful.
“I had the perfect outlook on everything,” said Carmouche. “I just had to make sure I keep her aggressive enough to keep with the two horses in front of me and keep the other ones inside.
“She leveled off pretty good and she galloped out nice and easy,” Carmouche added. “Just enough to let you know maybe you can get her away from the speed where she can carry it a bit further.”
Monshun, trained by Ray Handal, made her first start since a debut maiden win sprinting six furlongs at Saratoga Race Course in August. Davis said the daughter of Unified was game in defeat.
“I was very happy with her,” said Davis. “She breezed well for the set up for here. She broke sharp, the four [Lady Milagro] went up there and I just wanted my filly to relax a little bit. She was pretty game. Even though Kendrick went by, she was honest all the way through the wire.”
Davis said he was content to relinquish the lead to Lady Milagro.
“My plan was to come out running. I had a half-length on Eric, but I guess he decided to go on with it,” Davis said. “At that point, I’m trying to teach my filly to relax a little bit. I wanted the lead, and after that I tried to ride my race.
“Ray definitely had her plenty fit,” Davis added. “She probably needed the race, but even off the layoff she ran great.”
Jose Lezcano, aboard Rosebug, said his filly may benefit from more ground.
“She got bumped coming out of the gate, but she responded really good at the end,” said Lezcano. “She came running. I think she’s the kind of filly that the more she runs, the more she will improve. A little more distance will be better for her, too.”
Lady Scarlet made her first four starts for trainer Brad Cox before her current connections claimed her for $150,000 out of a winning maiden effort at Churchill Downs in November.
After a fifth-place finish first off the claim in an optional claiming race at Oaklawn, Lady Scarlet was away from the races for two months before her last-out victory on February 26. With her Cicada victory, the dark bay filly improved her record to 3-2-0 from 7 lifetime starts.
Bred in Kentucky by Popatop, Lady Scarlet collected $55,000 for her winning effort, boosting her career earnings to $194,030. A $2 win wager on Lady Scarlet returned $14.
Live racing will resume Sunday at the Big A with a 10-race card featuring the $100,000 Haynesfield in Race 9. First post is 1:20 p.m. Eastern.
America’s Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the winter meet at Aqueduct Racetrack on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.
NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, and the best way to bet every race of the winter meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.
By Mary Eddy/NYRA Press Office
Photo of Lady Scarlett by Chelsea Durand
