Mutamakina (GB) stalked the pace set by Alnaseem (GB), waited for the final turn to make her move, and held off a challenge from Chad Brown's Etoile in the stretch to win the Grade 2 Dance Smartly at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. The 1 1/4-mile race, part of the Queen's Plate undercard, saw the daughter of Irish sire Nathaniel get her first G2 victory for owner Al Shira'aa Farms and trainer Christophe Clement.
Breaking from post six, Dylan Davis put Mutamakina in behind front runner Alnaseem, with Blame Debbie behind them on the rail in third. Mutamaking was never more than a length behind the leader, as Alnaseem set fractions of :25.98 for the first quarter and :50.32 for the half-mile. Inside the half-mile, Alnaseem looked poised to make the Dance Smartly hers in a wire-to-wire performance, but Davis put Mutakmakina in gear as they approached the top of the stretch.
Into the stretch on a firm E.P. Taylor turf course, Mutamakina pulled even with Alnaseem and then accelerated past her. Irad Ortiz, Jr. moved Etoile from the rail through a hole between horses, finding running room two-wide in the straightaway, but it was not enough to catch the Clement trainee. Mutamakina held off a fast-closing Etoile and Merveilleux to win the G2 Dance Smarty by a half-length. Court Return was fourth. Blame Debbie, Alnaseem, and Afleet Katherine round out the order of finish.
The time for the mile and a quarter was 2:01.26.
Mutamakina paid $8.80, $3.50, and $2.60. Etoile paid $2.60 and $2.10. Merveilleux paid $3.30.
Bred in Great Britain by Widgham Stud, Mutamakina is a 5-year-old mare by Nathaniel out of the Danehill mare Joshua's Princess (GB). She was consigned by New England Stud at the 2017 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale and purchased by Shawn Dugan, agent, for $137,225. The Dance Smartly is Mutamakina's first win in four starts in 2021, for a lifetime record of four wins in 15 starts.
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