Mamdooha Prevails in Ruthless Stretch Duel

Mamdooha got her nose down on the wire after a ferocious  battle with Vero Amore through the final yards to take the $98,000 Ruthless Stakes  at Aqueduct Racetrack and earn her third straight victory.



The 2-1 second choice in the field of five 3-year-old fillies, Mamdooha settled in third, just a few lengths behind her stablemate, 9-10 favorite Summertime Friend, who led through an opening quarter mile in :23.49 over a muddy track.

Nudged into contention by Eddie Castro as Vero Amore and Irad Ortiz Jr. took over on the turn after a :47.04 half mile, Mamdooha barreled three-wide into the stretch. She drew alongside the game Vero Amore a furlong out, and they matched strides to the finish line.



"The last part of the race, I thought I got a little bit ahead," said Castro. "The other horse (Vero Amore) didn't make it easy for me. They fought hard to the wire. She's a good filly."



"The other horse passed me, but my filly came back a little bit so I thought maybe we had it," said Ortiz. "We got second, but my filly was great."



Mamdooha, a Shadwell Stable Kentucky homebred by Daaher   out of the Rahy filly Marraasi, completed the six furlongs in 1:12.01 and boosted her bankroll to $170,200. Mamdooha was coming off a 4 1/2-length triumph in the Gin Talking Stakes as the 7-10 pick at Laurel Park Dec. 7. She began her streak with a maiden victory at Aqueduct in her second lifetime start Nov. 3 following a runner-up finish in her debut at Monmouth Park Sept. 28.



"Eddie did a great job of keeping her a little bit closer, we didn't want to get too far behind in a five-horse field," said Art Magnuson, assistant to winning trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. "He rode her great and we got a little lucky on the wire. We couldn't be happier for Shadwell Stables, who's breeding these horses."



With Summertime Friend fading to fourth, Mamdooha returned $6.10, $3.40, and $3.80. She topped a $20.20 exacta with Vero Amore, who returned $3.90 and $5.50. Alpaca Fina finished 9 1/4 lengths behind the first two while returning $5.30 to show.



Keep in Mind checked in fifth.