Aqueduct: Ghalia Princess runs away to win by 6 in Cicada

Ghalia Princess drew off to an impressive six-length victory in Saturday’s $100,000 Cicada Stakes, a six-furlong sprint for sophomore fillies at Aqueduct.

Owned by Sumaya U.S. Stable and trained by Brad Cox, the American Pharoah bay sat just off the pace under jockey Manny Franco before cruising to the front in the stretch for a much-the-best score.

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“I thought she ran on and let her big stride kind of unfold the way it does,” said Dustin Dugas, assistant to Cox. “It kind of went the way we thought. I didn’t think she’d be quite as quick to keep up with these guys, but she could if she was pressed. I think Manny made the right call by just letting the race unfold the way it did.”

Reconcile was hustled to the front by José Lezcano to clear her rivals from the outermost post 4. Ghalia Princess assumed second position after breaking from the rail with the Kendrick Carmouche-piloted Miss Harriett to her outside and long shot Anna’s Wish dropping back to trail the field.

The order remained unchanged as Reconcile set a swift first quarter-mile in 22.18 seconds over the fast main track with Ghalia Princess and Franco content to stalk one length back to the outside.

Reconcile and Ghalia Princess put seven lengths between themselves and Miss Harriett with another length back to Anna’s Wish after a half-mile in 44.98 seconds. In the turn, Ghalia Princess drew up alongside the gray Reconcile and put a half-length in front by the stretch call.

A game Reconcile ran on strongly after five-eighths in 57.01 seconds but only could watch as Ghalia Princess bounded by when given her cue, crossing the line an emphatic winner with a final time of 1:09.85.

“For a second it did concern me when Manny already went to his crop, and Jose was just kind of sitting pretty chilly, but only for a few strides. After that she kicked on and did her thing,” Dugas said.

Ghalia Princess, who won on debut sprinting six furlongs at Fair Grounds in January, avenged a last-out second in the seven-furlong Ruthless on Feb. 17 at Aqueduct.

Franco, who returned to ride after the Ruthless, said he expected to chase the potential pace of Reconcile and Miss Harriett but was comfortable with his positioning the entire race Saturday.

“I warmed up my filly really good, and she jumped out of there well. Lezcano cleared me, and Kendrick’s horse didn’t break fast today at all, and she followed us, so I was able to go outside Lezcano, and that was it,” Franco said. “She was looking at José’s horse a little bit, and as soon as she switched (leads), my filly I asked her, and she kicked on.”

Reconcile improved off a last-out fifth in the Ruthless to round out the exacta with Anna’s Wish another 6 3/4 lengths back in third. Miss Harriett rounded out the order of finish. Value Area was scratched.

Bred in Kentucky by International Equities Holding, Ghalia Princess out of the stakes-winning Medaglia d’Oro mare Ghalia banked $55,000 in victory while improving her record to 3: 2-1-0. She returned $2.80 for a $2 win bet.