MAMMA Mia, winner of last year’s 1000 Guineas and Jamaica Oaks Classic races, leads a field of 14 for the $1.25-million Henry W Jaghai OD, JP Trophy, in what is expected to be an easy win for her during the premier event on today’s 10-race schedule.

Mamma Mia has raced twice this season, without success. The Jason DaCosta trainee was unable to finish her race in the Ian Levy Cup over eight and a half furlongs (1,700m) on January 1, after being pulled up lame at the half mile (800m). That race was won by
Atomica, the two-time Horse of the Year.

On February 25 the four-year-old chestnut filly returned to the races in the Overnight Allowance division during which she was predicted to overcome challengers racing seven furlongs (1,400m). Despite leading for most of the way in that race, Mamma Mia finished third behind dead-heated winners Atlantic Convoy and Further and Beyond, by 2¾ lengths.

Mamma Mia confronts a mild set of runners today, and with the distance decreased she could be able to go all the way at a cheerful clip. She has prepared quite well for this race, galloping five and a half furlongs (1,100m) in 1:11.3, and the last five furlongs (1,000m) in 1:05.1 on Saturday, March 9.

Jockey Robert “Hard Ball” Halledeen has remained in the saddled aboard
Mamma Mia ( Soul Warrior – Princess Geeta).

The Overnight Allowance contest for three-year-olds and upward is positioned as the 10th and final event on the day with a post time of 5:20 pm, with the first race at 11:40 am.

Rhythm Buzz, Laban, and Money Monster are expected to put in good efforts here in trying to deny Mamma Mia her first win for the season.

Rhythm Buzz, trained by Vincent Atkinson, was a winner over seven and a half furlongs (1,500m) on January 21, beating Sonny T and Chippy and Babylike by a length in 1:34.3.
Rhythm Buzz can sprint these — evidence of this being his second-place finish behind
Yellowstone over the straight (1,000m) on January 6 — and he is expected to be on the premises when the race is being decided.

The Richard Azan-conditioned Laban has been running some fair races without finding the winners’ enclosure.
Laban, based on his consistency, should again do well as he is always a dangerous runner at this level.

Money Monster has had two runs this season so far, after returning from a six-month break on February 14.
Money Monster — bred, owned, and trained by Fitzroy Glispie — should be fit and ready now to deliver a strong performance here and so a good run is expected from him.

The dark horse in the line-up appears to be
Wall Street Trader, a five-year-old, American-bred, dark bay/brown gelding who makes his debut on local soil here.
Wall Street Trader, who is highly thought of at his stables, has trained well for his first run, clocking 1:14.3 for six furlongs (1,200m) on Saturday, March 9. The Rowan Mathie trainee should be kept on the ride side here.

Ones to watch

Race 1)
Jon P/Baton Rouge/Queen Zan

Race 2)
Sir Ganga Jamuna/In The Spirit/Cave Man

Race 3)
Biblical Legend/Sunshine Cat/Thunderstrike

Race 4)
Fred The Great/Legit Boss/All For Love

Race 5)
Cosmic Force/Dimetry P/Sir Wong Don

Race 6)
Joy Is Golden/Royal Ash/Acknowledgeme

Race 7)
Shany Star/Captain Sparrow/Paper Work

Race 8)
Posing Already/Jaguar/Whisky

Race 9)
Natural Dancer/Military Grade/Maggie’s Trix

Race 10)
Mamma Mia/Rhythm Buzz/Wall Street Trader