Sweet Solare is the Cicada Stakes value play

A well-matched and talented field of six sophomore fillies will vie in Saturday’s $100,000 Cicada S. at Aqueduct. The cast features numerous well-bred fillies who have impressed on various occasions in what promises to be a competitive dash.

#2 Sweet Solare (6-1) offers the best value in the field for conditioner Horacio De Paz. By top sire Into Mischief, the bay lass debuted on January 28 and broke slowly before running on well late to finish third, falling just a head shy of the runner-up spot. Returning on February 25, the Kentucky-bred miss took command in the early stages en route to a wire-to-wire victory over a sloppy, sealed surface, registering a solid 90 Brisnet Speed figure in the process.

She has displayed a solid closing punch in each of her lifetime outings to date, and Sweet Solare will sit an ideal trip on Saturday under Trevor McCarthy, too. I expect the filly to track the fast and contested pace a few lengths back early on while saving ground, before moving into contention turning for home and running down the leaders at a fair number.

The horse to beat in the Cicada could be #5 Monshun (3-1), who was a superb debut victress in her lone start to date at Saratoga in the summer. The dark bay daughter of Unified was well-backed, displayed big early speed, and also closed well to post a no-doubt tally for trainer Ray Handal. The $40,000 yearling purchase has been training in steady fashion since late December, and I expect her to be fit and ready for her stakes bow in this affair. Dylan Davis will guide the fine prospect.

Morning-line choice #1 Rosebug (5-2) cuts back in trip following a fourth-place showing in the 1 1/8-mile Busanda S. for Bill Mott. The well-bred American Pharoah filly gets the rail with Jose Lezcano in the stirrups. Sharp maiden heroine #3 Exxaltress (9-2), Ruthless S. third #4 Lady Milagro (5-1), and Oaklawn Park allowance vixen #6 Lady Scarlet (3-1) each merit consideration in the balanced field.

Cicada Wagers

• $10 win and place #2 Sweet Solare ($20)
• $2 trifecta 2 with 5 with all ($16)
• 50-cent trifecta 2 with all with all ($10)