BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Florida-bred Sparkling Mama tries to make it two in-a-row Thursday when she goes postward in the seventh race at the Belmont at Big A meet, a $75,000 starter allowance, optional claiming. She has post one among eight 3-year-old fillies set to race seven furlongs in pursuit of the winner’s share of the $70,000 purse.
Trained by Domenick Schettino, Sparkling Mama scored under the same conditions going a mile at the Belmont at Big A meet on May 14, winning by a neck ahead of Lady Rose, who she faces again Thursday. That was her second win in eight career starts including a neck victory in a $75,000 optional claiming maiden race going a mile at Aqueduct in January.
After her first win, Sparkling Mama had two sub-par efforts against $75,000 starter allowance, optional claimer at Aqueduct in February and March before winning her last out.
Owned by Schettino with Ann M. Weaver and Donald W. Olson, Sparkling Mama boasts a career record of two wins with a second and a third in eight starts with earnings of $110,500. A two-time graduate of Ocala Breeders’ Sales, Schettino took her for $5,000 out of Scott Kintz’s Six K’s Training and Sales consignment at last year’s Spring Sale. She also sold for $25,000 to Jim Tilton’s JDT Racing out of the consignment of breeder Bobby Jones Equine at the 2024 October Yearling Sale. She is by Vekoma out of Sita, by Giant’s Causeway.
Sparkling Mama is 3-1 on the morning line and will be ridden by Flavien Prat.
Trained by Linda Rice, Lady Rose makes just her fourth career start. Prior to two races verus Sparkling Mama, she was third in a six-and-a-half-furlong, $75,000 optional claiming maiden race won by Daniella Marie at Aqueduct in November.
By Upstart out of the Giant’s Causeway mare White Sangria, Lady Rose has earned $66,400 in her three races for CJ Stables.
Lady Rose is the 5-2 morning line favorite and will depart post five with Jose Lezcano.
Rounding out the field are Call Me Jal with Reylu Gutierrez in the saddle, Cravings will be guided by Ruben Silvera, Ricardo Santana Jr. has the call on Gracie’s Delight, Dee’s On Dow and jockey Edgard Zayas, Manny Franco rides Donna Romano and Jaime Rodriguez takes the riding assignment on L’éclair.
Return to the June 17 issue of Wire to Wire
