Post favors Bluegrass Flag

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Wilburnmoney beat Bluegrass Flag straight up when they met in the Franklin Square Stakes here on Feb. 19. There are reasons to believe Bluegrass Flag can reverse the result in Saturday’s $100,000 Cicada Stakes for 3-year-old fillies going six furlongs at Aqueduct.

In the Franklin Square, Wilburnmoney got a dream outside stalking trip while Bluegrass Flag was hard used on the pace in a 10-horse field. Bluegrass Flag was making just the third start of her career and only ran in the Franklin Square after an allowance race in which she had previously been entered was scrapped due to a snowstorm.

Still, Bluegrass Flag acquitted herself well, finishing 3 3/4 lengths clear of the rest of the field while two lengths behind Wilburnmoney, who ran her career-best race.

On Saturday, it will be Bluegrass Flag on the outside of a compact five-horse field, while Wilburnmoney, trained by Gary Gullo, will break from the rail.

“I don’t need to be convinced that Gary’s filly can do it, but she needs to show me she can do it again,” said Tom Morley, the trainer of Bluegrass Flag. “I love the post positions this time around.”

Morley was very pleased with Bluegrass Flag’s performance in the Franklin Square and believes she has moved forward from the effort.

“Bluegrass Flag’s works since she ran have been extremely good,” Morley said. “She’s a light, immature filly who’s developing all the time, so I’m very wary of not working her too fast. She knows what she’s doing now.”

Kendrick Carmouche rides Bluegrass Flag.

Sounds Delicious, trained by Linda Rice, puts her 3-for-3 record on the line in the Cicada. After winning a maiden claimer at Laurel in December, she won her next two starts by a combined 20 1/4 lengths. She is likely to show speed from post 4 under Cornelio Velasquez.

Tiz Rae Anna and Heavenly Score, both turning back out of a third and a fifth in the Busher Stakes at 1 1/16 miles, complete the field.

Due to the short field, the Cicada will go as race 3 on the nine-race card, which begins at 1:20 p.m. Eastern.

KEY CONTENDERS

Bluegrass Flag, by Bluegrass Cat Last 3 Beyers: 75-73-54

◗ Speedy sort needs to avoid a pace battle with Sounds Delicious, right to her inside.

“I’ll be thrilled if somebody wants to go on and go too fast into the turn,” Morley said. “I don’t think she needs the lead at all. Five-horse fields can be tactical; we don’t need to be tactical. We know what we’re going to do. If they’re faster than us on the inside, that’s fine, but we’re not going to take back at all.”

Wilburnmoney, by Wilburn Last 3 Beyers: 80-57-49

◗ Ran by far her fastest race when winning the Franklin Square by two lengths.

◗ Gullo thought about skipping the race to give the filly more time but feels she’s doing well enough, and it’s hard to pass up a five-horse field.