Mumtaz and Voladora top Ricks Memorial

Mumtaz and Voladora, whose biggest career wins have come at a mile on turf, will meet under those conditions Sunday in the $50,000 Ricks Memorial Handicap at Remington Park in Oklahoma City.

Mumtaz comes into the Ricks Memorial off a fifth-place finish in the Grade 3 Eatontown Handicap at 1 1/8 miles at Monmouth Park on Aug. 5. Trainer Tom Amoss shipped Mumtaz, a winner of $370,005, to Oklahoma because of the distance of the Ricks Memorial.

"I've always thought of her as a very good miler," said Amoss, who has given the mount to Tim Doocy. "I think turning her back to a mile distance will put her in a position to run a competitive race."

Although Mumtaz drops in class to a non-graded stakes for the Ricks, she faces a formidable rival in Voladora, a winner of $532,522 who will be seeking her third consecutive victory Sunday. In May, Voladora won the $200,000 WinStar Distaff at a mile on turf at Lone Star - a race Mumtaz won in 2000 - then returned from a layoff of more than two months last out and won the $35,000 Azalea Handicap here.

"This race is a little tougher than last time, but with a race under our belt we'll be a little tougher too," said trainer Donnie Von Hemel, who has given the mount to Cliff Berry.

Luis Quinonez rides outside threat Runaway Magic, who closed up the rail to finish second, beaten a length by Voladora, in the Azalea Handicap.