Linda Rice visited the Aqueduct winner’s circle after seven consecutive races in which she has sent starters to the starting gate.
Trying to tie the New York Racing Association winning streak for trainers, Rice fell short Saturday when Hot Fudge, the 3-2 post-time favorite, finished third to 11-1 long shot Hey Mamaluke in the third race at The Big A.
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Rice hardly cooled off, however. She saddled two other winners from three runners on the remainder of the card: Cumberland Blues in the fourth, a $25,000 claiming race, and Downtown Mischief in the nightcap, the $100,000 Cicada Stakes. Both were ridden by Jose Lezcano.
.@LindaRiceRacing has won 10 of the last 12 races in which she's had horses at AQU. She has horses in the first seven races on Sunday, many of whom are ML faves.
— David Grening (@DRFGrening) March 18, 2023
Over those two cards, Rice’s barn was represented nine horses. Two of them finished behind winning stablemates.
Friday at Aqueduct, Greatest Love took the day’s second race, a six-furlong claiming sprint, by 2 1/4 lengths under jockey Jose Lezcano. That was followed one race later by a one-length Freddymo Factor score in a 6 1/2-furlong claiming race under jockey Dylan Davis.
In the seventh race, an allowance optional claiming dirt mile, Rice saddled the duo of Mommasgottarun and Movie Moxy. Jockey Eric Cancel booted the former home to a 3 1/4-length score at 7-2 odds while the latter came home third.
For Mommasgottarun, the win was another example of her improved form this winter.
Rice claimed the Maclean’s Music filly New Year’s Eve for $50,000 out of a fifth-place finish at Aqueduct. She has won two of her three starts as a 4-year-old for her new barn and was second in her only loss.
