With a robust field of quality to contend with, the trio of Mamma Mia, Bootylicious, and Legit Boss possess that extra gear and one — if not all — could ignite the 30th running of the $1.75-million Thornbird Stakes feature race at Caymanas Park today.

Mamma Mia, who is trained by champion conditioner Jason DaCosta, has never been worse than second in her five career races thus far, winning three times. Bootylicious, trained by Ian Parsard, is unbeaten in two career starts, while Anthony Nunes’ Legit Boss has won two races, finishing second twice and third once from six career starts to date.

Mamma Mia made a successful three-year-old debut on Ash Wednesday (February 22, 2023), making all the running in a dominant effort to win a three-year-old and upwards (non-winners of three) call going six-and-a-half furlongs (1,300m). Mamma Mia won by 5½ lengths ahead of stablemates Fred The Great and Tekapunt in a time of 1:20.4 (23.4 x 47.1 x 1:13.0). Based on that effort, Mamma Mia should prove a tough contender here, and given her spins at exercise, she is fit and ready to get rolling.

Bred by Soul Warrior out of the Royal Minister mare Princess Geeta, Mamma Mia will tote a top weight of 57.0kgs (126 lb) with Robert Halledeen in the saddle.

Bootylicious, a bay filly bred by Key To Power – Keep The Faith, made an outstanding debut on November 5, 2022, when winning by 15 lengths over five-and-a-half furlongs (1,100 m) in a time of 1:06.2. That run got tongues wagging as the expectation of a competitive two-year-old season was on the horizon.

However, Bootylicious missed the remaining part of that season, making her re-entry on February 18, 2023, which was widely anticipated as racing fans wanted to see how much progress the Ian Parsard trainee had made. Bootylicious didn’t disappoint as she remained unbeaten after a fighting win in a native-bred three-year-old (non-winners of two) and imported three-year-olds and upwards (maiden) over six furlongs (1,200m).

Her final time of 1:14.1 wasn’t all that, but the manner in which she won the race suggests that a cracking race in the Thornbird Stakes is on the cards. Jockey Reyan Lewis remains in the saddle and is expected to carry a weight of 55.0kgs (121 lb).

Legit Boss (Casual Trick–Bilingual) got herself on the Classic train following her upset win in the Pick3 Super Challenge Trophy (seven furlongs) last year and a dead-heat effort with Mamma Mia for second place in the one-mile (1,600m) Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes.

With that, Legit Boss was expected to win on her seasonal debut, but she finished third by two lengths behind stablemate GT Boy and Awesome Anthony on March 4 over five-and-a-half furlongs. With more real estate here, Legit Boss is going to be on the premises when this race hits the finishing line. Linton Steadman has the leg up here, toting 56.0kgs (123 lb).

Of the rest of the runners in the field, probably Nunes’ other runner Royal Ash could upset the big three here. Royal Ash is a roan filly bred by Fearless Vision out of the Casual Trick mare Greek Goddess.

The Thornbird Stakes, honouring the outstanding filly of yesteryear, is one of the major prep races on the “Road to the Triple Crown”. The Graded Stakes contest for native-bred three-year-olds over seven furlongs (1,400m) is positioned as the ninth event on the 10-race card with a post time of 4:35 pm. First race is at 11:45 am.

Royal Ash, after a third-placed finish behind Mamma Mia and Mojito in the Cash Pot “Only One For Me” Trophy last October, made her seasonal debut in the recent Hotline Stakes, finishing second behind Durocell in the six-furlong (1,200m) event. Royal Ash is going to appreciate this distance and is a live threat. Anthony Thomas will ride at 54.0kgs (119 lb).

The remaining runners in the field are Thalita (Omar Walker), Acknowledgeme (Raddesh Roman), All For Love (Dane Dawkins), Boasey (Trevor Simpson), Speedie Hare (Shavon Townsend), and Savvy Girl (Youville Pinnock).

Also on tap is the $1.29 million Open Allowance call for the Saint Cecelia Cup, which sees the return to competitive racing of Horse of the Year Atomica. The four-year-old chestnut filly last raced on December 3 in the ultra-rich Mouttet Mile and finished in ninth place. She is expected to get off the mark here and will see competition from Nuclear Noon, She’s My Destiny, I Am Fred, and Runaway Algo.

Ones to watch:

Race 1) Hecandance/Sunshine Cat/Garrincha

Race 2) She’s A Mirage/Newland Links

Race 3) Kwaku/Another Champion/Hopenperseverance

Race 4) Doctor Grey/War of the Roses/Stallwalkin’girl

Race 5) Stranger Danger/Oldkingcole/Ha Gow Siu Mei

Race 6) Electrode/Super Alex/Miss Lynton

Race 7) Divine Force/Awesome Anthony/Platinum Force

Race 8) Real Boss/Stomp The Rhythm/Sunset Silhoutte

Race 9) Mamma Mia/Bootylicious/Legit Boss

Racae 10) Atomica/I Am Fred/Runaway Algo