I'mhavingamoment goes from debut win to Maddie May Stakes
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The debut-winning I’mhavingamoment meets winners for the first time in Sunday’s $100,000 Maddie May Stakes for New York-bred 3-year-old fillies at Aqueduct.
I’mhavingamoment, a daughter of Uncle Mo who brought $495,000 as a yearling in 2021, won her debut going seven furlongs by three lengths on Dec. 30, pressing the early pace and racing on her left lead through the lane. Three horses she beat that day came back to win their next start, including Cairo Sugar, who is entered in the Maddie May, run as a one-turn mile.
“It’s a hard distance to win at first time out, so that’s a feather in her hat,” said Leana Willaford, the New York-based assistant for Bill Mott, who trains I’mhavingamoment. “She worked good in the morning, but she could act a little green. She was very professional in her race.”
I’mhavingamoment has worked five times since her victory, including a bullet half-mile in 47.20 seconds on Feb. 13.
Dylan Davis will ride I’mhavingamoment from the outside post in this six-horse field.
Jose Lezcano rode I’mhavingamoment in her debut. Sunday, he rides Les Bon Temps, whom he rode to victory in the $500,000 Fifth Avenue division of the New York Stallion Stakes here on Dec. 17.
Out of that race, owner Sheila Rosenblum bought majority interest in the filly who was then transferred to Linda Rice from Mike Maker. Rice opted to skip the Franklin Square Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs to point for this spot.
“It appears she likes the distance, which is why I waited for the mile for her,” Rice said. “I’m kind of anxious to run her and see how she does.”
Les Bon Temps breaks from post 5.
Rice also entered Starry Midnight, a filly Rosenblum bought into following her maiden victory going 6 1/2 furlongs on Nov. 27. She finished last of six in the Franklin Square.
Rice said she wanted to run her in the Maddie May because “I think she wants the distance.”
Eric Cancel rides Starry Midnight from post 4.
Luna Loca scratched from an allowance race on Friday to run in this spot. Trainer David Duggan said running Luna Loca in the Maddie May was always the plan, with the allowance insurance in case the stakes didn’t fill. In her first start for Duggan and the fifth of her career, Luna Loca rolled to an 8 1/2-length victory in a starter/optional claimer. That race was run over a sloppy track and she earned a 73 Beyer Figure, 23 points higher than her previous best.
“The distance is probably preferable,” Duggan said of the mile. “You question the [high speed figure] on a wet track. Is she going to back it up? I think she will. She’s trained very well.”
Jose Gomez rides from post 2.
Cairo Sugar was beaten three lengths by I’mhavingamoment on Dec. 30, and came back three weeks later to win her maiden by five lengths. Sunday, she breaks from the rail under Andrew Wolfsont.
Sweetest Princess won her maiden going a mile on Nov. 18 before finishing fourth of five in the Busanda Stakes at 1 1/8 miles.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.