AFTER a disappointing start to her four-year-old season which was marked by only one win in six starts, leaving many to wonder if she had lost her spark, Mamma Mia showed glimpses of her former brilliance with a dominant win in the Clovis Metcalfe Trophy on Sunday, July 7, 2024.

The chestnut filly, owned by Carlton Watson and trained by Jason DaCosta, left her competition in the dust, crossing the finishing line 1¾ lengths ahead of second-place finisher and stablemate Funcaandun (Tevin Foster).

The Open Allowance contest for three-year-olds and upward over 7½ furlongs was a true test of Mamma Mia’s mettle, and she rose to the challenge. Her final time of 1:30.4 was just outside the track record of 1:29.2 set by Sky Train on May 7, 1983.

Mamma Mia’s impressive win signals a potential return to top form for the filly who had a stellar three-year-old career, winning the prestigious Jamaica 1000 Guineas and Jamaica Oaks Classic races last year.

“It was an excellent run by Mamma Mia,” Watson said in a post-race interview.

“She was able to run on her own today, and that did the trick. Her last workout coming into this race, doing 1:13.4 for six furlongs, was a great work and — based on the pace of this race — gave her a 50/50 chance of winning,” he added.

Ridden by claiming apprentice Shavon Townsend, Mamma Mia easily got the lead at the start of the race and led Funcaandun, Mahogany (Shane Ellis), and Ability (Reyan Lewis) down the backstretch. Mamma Mia maintained her gallop well until navigating the half mile, when she decided to up the tempo on rivals.

Entering the straight without any real dangers Mamma Mia went about her business, winning easily. Easy As ABC (Roderick DaCosta) finished third.

Owner Carlton Watson (second left) and other connections gather in the winners’ enclosure with Mamma Mia, Shavon Townsend aboard, after winning the Clovis Metcalfe Trophy on Sunday, July 7, 2024. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)