Momameamaria stays local for Correction prep
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Momameamaria came off a 201-day layoff Dec. 17 to win a second-level optional-claiming race over Aqueduct’s inner track. The race proved to be very productive as the second-, third-, and fourth-place finishers all came back to win their next starts.
On Thursday, Momameamaria will try to become the fourth next-out winner from that key race when she heads a field of seven entered in a $75,000, third-level allowance going six furlongs at Aqueduct.
Trainer David Cannizzo is trying to get Momameamaria to the $125,000 Correction Stakes at Aqueduct on March 19. Cannizzo was extremely happy that this race filled as his other option would have been to run Momameamaria in Saturday’s Grade 2, $300,000 Barbara Fritchie at Laurel. Cannizzo didn’t want to do that because Momameamaria is “a bad shipper,” he said.
“If you can run her out of her own location, she’s much better,” Cannizzo said. “It’s a much better prep for the Correction than going to the Fritchie.”
Momameamaria won a first-level allowance race May 30 but was in need of a break after two hard efforts in four weeks, Cannizzo said. Momameamaria came back running Dec. 17, holding off Clothes Fall Off by a neck. Clothes Fall Off came back to set an Aqueduct inner-track record for 5 1/2 furlongs in winning her next start.
Cannizzo also entered Sun and Moon, a 5-year-old mare he claimed for $32,000 out of a winning effort Jan. 14.
“I think they can run around the track one-two,” Cannizzo said.
Trainer Michelle Nevin also has two in the race, including Paulassilverlining, the winner of the Grade 2 Matron at Belmont at age 2 and the Ruthless Stakes over the inner track at age 3.
Nevin also entered Making Havoc, who finished second in the Jan. 14 race in which Clothes Fall Off set a track record.
First post for Thursday’s nine-race card is 12:50 p.m. Eastern, and the feature is carded as race 8.
KEY CONTENDERS
Momameamaria, by Quality Road
Last 3 Beyers: 82-81-73
◗ She came off a 6 1/2-month layoff to win a second-level optional claimer in the slop Dec. 17, a race that produced three next-out winners.
◗ She has had four works in the last month and looms as the controlling speed under Manny Franco from post 3.
Paulassilverlining, by Ghostzapper
Last 3 Beyers: 82-79-73
◗ She returns to six furlongs for the first time since she won the Ruthless Stakes over the inner track 13 months ago.
◗ She is 3 for 4 at six furlongs.
◗ She failed to stretch out to a mile when blowing a two-length lead in the final furlong of the one-mile Thirty Eight Go Go Stakes at Laurel on Dec. 26.
◗ She is reunited with Jose Ortiz, who is 2 for 4 on her, including her victory in the Grade 2 Matron in October 2014.