SOUTH OZONE PARK, NY – James McIngvale’s Workaholic certainly lived up to her name, grinding out her first career stakes score in workmanlike fashion when she overtook the favored Miss Imperial late to take Saturday’s Cicada Stakes at Aqueduct.
Breaking from post 5 under Cory Orm as the 36/1 longest shot in the field, Workaholic sat off of the early pace while Stonesintheroad posted opening fractions of :22.24 and :46.88. Still in midpack as she turned for home, Workaholic raced behind Miss Imperial as she took the lead in midstretch, then surged in midstretch and overtook the bettors’ choice in the shadow of the wire. The Laura Wohlers trainee crossed with a 3/4-length advantage in a final time of 1:13.19 for the 6-furlong sprint over the fast main track.
“She’s usually a filly that you want on the front end, but there was a lot of speed in the race and she settled very kindly on her own,” said Orm, who earned his first career stakes score in more than 4,100 starts since 2010. “On the turn, she really got going, and down the lane, I was really happy with her. We knew she had it in her, we’re just pleasantly surprised to finally get it.”
Miss Imperial finished 4 lengths ahead of a weakened Stonesintheroad, who entered the race undefeated in 3 career starts. Guacamole was a length behind her in fourth, with Two Dozen Roses and Forgotten Hero strung out to complete the order of finish. Fangirl and Gracetown were scratched.
Workaholic’s win was her first since taking an allowance race at Turfway Park on January 11 and improved her overall record to 10-3-4-1. The 3-year-old daughter of Sky Mesa has now earned $142,668 in her young career.
“She’s very game,” said Wohlers, who earned her first stakes score since Runhappy won the Malibu Stakes (G1) in 2015. “I don’t think I’ve had any horse, with the exception of Runhappy, that runs as hard as this little filly runs every time. I was going to be happy if she hit the board, but when she got up there and took the lead, it put tears in my eyes. I’m just so proud of her.”
Workaholic returned $75.50 to win, $17.20 to place, and $4 to show. Miss Imperial brought back $3.50 to place and $2.10 to show, while Stonesintheroad paid $2.20 to show.
