$440,000 purchase Downtown Mama wins debut at Laurel

Trainer Linda Rice continued her hot hand at Laurel Park’s winter-spring meet when Lady Sheila Stable’s Downtown Mama rolled to a three-quarter length maiden victory in her career debut Sunday.

 

Purchased for $440,000 as a 2-year-old in training last April, Downtown Mama ($5.40) went off as the 8-5 favorite in a field of eight 3-year-old fillies, running six furlongs in 1:11.25 over a muddy main track in the $40,000 maiden special weight sprint.

 

It was the 21st win from 41 starts at the meet for New York-based Rice, good for third in the standings behind Claudio Gonzalez and Kieron Magee, each tied at 25. Rice ranks first in purse earnings with $711,180.

 

Downtown Mama broke on top from Post 8 before being settled back into third on the outside by jockey Horacio Karamanos as Toby Girl and Tell Me More battled through a quarter-mile in 22.81 seconds and a half in 46.67. Kept in the clear three wide, Downtown Mama moved up to challenge for the lead rounding the far turn and hooked up with Toby Girl after straightening for home. The two brushed slightly in the final eighth before Downtown Mama edged clear.

 

“Linda told me try to be ready because she doesn’t break good in the morning, so try to get a good break and don’t send her to the lead. Just keep a steady hand, let her be and make one move,” Karamanos said. “She broke really sharp so I let her pick it up and then I took her back a little bit. I saw the speed inside go and I sit third nicely and when I asked her she looked around a little bit. She started to run a little spotty so I hit her a couple times and she gave me a kick. She was a little green but she has lot of room for improvement.”

 

Toby Girl stayed on for second 1 ¾ lengths ahead of She’s Achance Too.