Top two tough in Correction

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - The supporting cast has changed but the main protagonists remain the same for Sunday's $65,000 Correction Handicap at Aqueduct.

Magnolia Jackson and Towering Escape have been pointing to this race for quite some time, and their connections had to be relieved when the racing office was able to come up with three other horses to fill the race. The Correction was originally scheduled for Feb. 3, but drew only four entries and was not carded. La Chica Rica joined the field when it was rescheduled for last Sunday, but that card was canceled when the jockeys refused to ride.

Two of the horses entered for last Sunday - A Bit of Pressure and Merryland Monroe - did not enter back. In their place are Yolanda B. Too and Pennyrile.

Still, the 67th Correction centers on the pair of New York-bred mares, Magnolia Jackson and Towering Escape. Magnolia Jackson won this race last year as part of a campaign that included scores in the Broadway and the Grade 2 Bed o' Roses Breeders' Cup. Magnolia Jackson missed five months because of injury, but has returned with front-running victories in the Montclair State Stakes at the Meadowlands and the Garland of Roses here.

Magnolia Jackson finished third as the 6-5 favorite in the Interborough Handicap, a result that trainer Gary Contessa blamed on the sloppy track. Though Magnolia Jackson had won three prior races on off tracks, Contessa noted that all were restricted and none were stakes.

"She's not on her stakes game in the mud,'' Contessa said.

With jockeys Ramon Dominguez and Norberto Arroyo Jr. sidelined because of injuries, Contessa has tabbed Alan Garcia to ride Magnolia Jackson. As the 120-pound highweight breaking from the rail, Magnolia Jackson figures to be on or close to the lead.

Towering Escape enters the Correction riding a three-race win streak. Though two of those victories came in front-running fashion, she displayed the ability to come from off the pace in a first-level allowance win last Nov. 22.

Though this will be the toughest competition Towering Escape has met to date, trainer Richard Schosberg believes his filly will be up to the task.

"She did what she had to do against the horses she's been in against," Schosberg said.

The one-week delay afforded Yolanda B. Too the opportunity to run in the Correction. Trained by Rick Violette, Yolanda B. Too won the restricted Squan Song Stakes at Laurel via disqualification before finishing third as the 4-5 favorite in the Nellie Morse at Laurel on Jan. 27. She cuts back to six furlongs for the first time since June, but is 2 for 3 at the distance.

La Chica Rica was the horse who finished first in the Squan Song, but she was disqualified for interfering with Yolanda B. Too. She finished third in the What a Summer last out. Pennyrile comes off a second-level allowance win here on Jan. 19.

Also on Sunday's card is the $65,000 Dat You Miz Blue Stakes for New York-bred 3-year-old fillies. Six of the seven in here have only maiden wins to their credit, while Becky's Flute comes off a first-level allowance win at odds of 53-1.

Love Cove, who has improved with blinkers, and the uncoupled Contessa pair of American Dream'a and City in the Clouds, loom the leading contenders.