Mamma Mia adds Jamaica Oaks to résumé

GUINEAS-WINNER MAMMA MIA added the Jamaica Oaks to her résumé in impressive fashion yesterday, making every leap a winning one after bounding out the gate like a scared hare with Philip Parchment.

Quickly claiming the rail, heading into the clubhouse turn with a two-length lead over joint 9-5 favourite, PRINCESS SHARON, MAMMA MIA used speed to run her rival into the ground on the far side before injecting lethal mid-race pace leaving the three-furlong pole.

PRINCESS SHARON, who had finished third behind THALITA and stablemate MONEY MISER in the 10-furlong Jamaica St Leger a month ago, stalking the pace and going past MAMMA MIA on the home turn, found herself with the unenviable task of having to chase the speedster from the start this time around, a death knell from early down the backstretch.

Cruising to the half-mile marker on an unmolested lead, Parchment urged on MAMMA MIA, baiting Tevin Foster aboard PRINCESS SHARON to make an early bid. A brave PRINCESS SHARON cut into MAMMA MIA’s lead but had no answer three furlongs out when the leader found a second wind and sped clear into the lane.

Roused by Parchment in the stretch run, MAMMA MIA drew off to win by a dozen lengths, clocking 2:10.1, ahead of POWER FROM ABOVE, who had relegated PRINCESS SHARON to third coming off the bend.

MAMMA MIA’s Oaks win handed trainer Jason DaCosta what he hopes will be a trophy-laden holiday weekend with St Leger winner THALITA going after Monday’s 12-furlong Jamaica Derby.

The champion trainer ended the afternoon with two winners after leading rider Reyan Lewis rallied SHE’S MY FRIEND to overhaul DREAM OF PARIS and hold on to land the sixth event from MONSIEUR BLUE.

Anthony Nunes also saddled two winners on the 10-race Oaks Day card, three-year-old MODERN MIRACLE dropping among $550,000 claimers in the third event, later closing the card with HOT STEPPER at five and a half furlongs.