Mamma Mia makes all the running in Jamaica Oaks
A breathtaking performance from Mamma Mia in the 84th running of the Jamaica Oaks has earned owner Carlton Watson and trainer Jason DaCosta their third Classic victory for the year.
The three-year-old chestnut filly Mamma Mia made it a one-act affair in Saturday’s $3.75-million Futurity contest for native-bred three-year-old fillies over 10 furlongs (2,000m), leaving some notable rivals in the dust to win by a commanding 12-length margin in a time of 2:10.1 (24.1 x 51.0 x 1:15.2 x 1:42.3).
With Phillip Parchment aboard, Mamma Mia glided away easily in front and started to raise her speed in the final three furlongs (600m); and with her rivals unable to keep up, the writing was already on the wall. Mamma Mia captured her second Classic race for the year following her Jamaica 1000 Guineas victory on June 3. It was also the second Classic win for Parchment and groom Christo Anthony this season.
In addition to Mamma Mia’s 1000 Guineas and Jamaica Oaks triumphs, Watson and DaCosta had also won the Jamaica St Leger with filly Thalita on July 1.
“Well, when I saw her got the lead comfortable and nobody really came to her at the six-furlong pole, I was pretty confident. I know that’s how she likes it, as if she gets lonely on the lead then they won’t beat her,” DaCosta said.
It might have been a 10-furlong trip but Mamma Mia surged to the lead and carried Princess Sharon (Tevin Foster) and Essential Quality (Javaniel Patterson) around the clubhouse turn and onto the main track.
Mamma Mia kept her speed going all the way down the backstretch, with Princess Sharon pressing all the time. The two then drew off in their own race heading towards the half-mile (800m) turn, while the trailing pack was many lengths behind.
When Parchment let loose the notch a bit aboard Mamma Mia the Soul Warrior offspring began to pull away from a ridden Princess Sharon approaching the distance, and from there on it was smooth sailing for the chestnut filly.
Mamma Mia turned for home on a merry clip, turned on the pressure in deep stretch, and cruised home by a city block in the end. Power From Above (Dane Dawkins) came from behind runners to get second place, some 10 lengths ahead of Princess Sharon who finished in third place.
“It was a brilliant ride and it was a brilliant run from a brilliant horse. Words cannot explain the feeling right now but what I can tell you is that I am happy. That was the plan — to go out in front and make every post a winning one.
“I just relaxed her and make her do her things. Leaving the three-furlong marker, and when I saw no one coming, I knew the race was over from there — and she did extremely well,” Parchment said.
Mamma Mia was the second winner on the card for DaCosta as he earlier saddled She’s My Friend (Reyan Lewis) in the sixth race.
Also with winners on the 10-race card were trainer Anthony Nunes and jockey Tevin Foster.
Nunes saddled Modern Miracle (Youville Pinnock) in the third race and Hot Stepper (Foster) in the nightcap. In addition to Hot Stepper, Foster won aboard Stanislaus in the fourth race for trainer Adrian Prince, who saddled his first career win.
Racing continues tomorrow with the 103rd running of the $7.5-million Jamaica Derby, as Watson and DaCosta go for their fourth Classic success for the year with favouirte Thalita.