Momameamaria easy to read by paddock manners
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – If you want to get an idea of how Momameamaria will perform in Saturday’s $125,000 Correction Stakes at Aqueduct, pay close attention to her behavior prior to the race.
Momameamaria came into a high-priced optional-claiming event here Feb. 11 following back-to-back wins. After showing some early speed, she retreated to finish a well-beaten fourth, 15 3/4 lengths behind Paulassilverlining, the probable Correction favorite.
“I was done in the paddock,” said trainer David Cannizzo, who noted Momameamaria’s unruly behavior. “As long as she holds her cool, she’s as good as those horses. If she washes out, we’re in trouble. You’ll know in the paddock.”
Momameamaria and Paulassilverlining were two of just five horses entered Wednesday for the Correction, the featured event on a nine-race card. The other three entrants were Clothes Fall Off, My Savannah Belle, and Willet, who is slated to make the final start of her career in this spot.
Paulassilverlining will most certainly go favored, coming off that 9 1/4-length allowance win and her 2-1-0 record from three inner-track starts. Clothes Fall Off is likely to be the second choice while coming off a second-place finish to stablemate Dancing House in the Grade 2 Barbara Fritchie at Laurel Park on Feb. 13.
Momameamaria has twice beaten Clothes Fall Off, including by a neck over the inner track Dec. 17.
“Ability is no issue,” Cannizzo said. “It’s just mental with her.”
Kendrick Carmouche will ride Momameamaria because her regular rider, Manny Franco, rides Clothes Fall Off. Jose Ortiz, who had ridden Clothes Fall Off in seven of her 10 starts, rides Paulassilverlining.