Correction Stakes a challenging return spot for Mamdooha

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – When last seen on the racetrack, Mamdooha was edging away from six 3-year-old fillies en route to a 1 1/2-length victory in the $100,000 Cicada Stakes, her third consecutive stakes victory and fourth straight win overall.

That was last March 15.

Almost exactly one year later, Mamdooha will try to pick up where she left off when she makes her 4-year-old debut in Saturday’s $100,000 Correction Stakes, which, like the Cicada, is a six-furlong race run over Aqueduct’s inner track.

Mamdooha, a daughter of Daaher, was one of six fillies and mares entered Wednesday for the Correction, which will go as race 4 on a 10-race card. Mamdooha drew post 2 and will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr.

Kiaran McLaughlin, who trains Mamdooha for Sheikh Hamdan’s Shadwell Stable, said Mamdooha was sidelined last spring due to an ankle chip that needed to be surgically removed.

“He often retires them at the end of their 3-year-old year,” said McLaughlin, adding that Sheikh Hamdan and racing manager Rick Nichols “decided to keep her going. It has taken a little more time, but she’s come back great.”

McLaughlin said Mamdooha began her training on a farm in Camden, S.C., before returning to him at Palm Meadows in January. Mamdooha breezed four times at Palm Meadows before shipping to New York last week. She did miss a scheduled work here due to inclement weather.

“She doesn’t have any conditions; we don’t have any place to really run except the stakes,” McLaughlin said. “It’s been a long time since she’s run. You never know how tough it is, but she’s a nice filly doing well.”

Topping the competition are Isabelle, a New York-bred who has won her two starts since returning from a lengthy layoff, and Expression, the winner of the Garland of Roses here Dec. 6 and third in the Grade 2 Barbara Fritchie at Laurel last month. Also entered were Aireofdistinction, Bridgehampton, and Vicki’s Dancer.