Mutamakina Makes Dance Smartly Hers At Woodbine

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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Former Newmarket-Based Trainer Ed Vaughan Scores First U.S. Win

Former European-based trainer Ed Vaughan recorded his first win in North America on Sunday when front-running Alnaseem (GB) captured a $104,000 conditioned allowance event at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

Alnaseem, who was ridden to a 3 ¾-length victory on the Matt Winn Turf Course by Adam Beschizza, was Vaughan's ninth starter in the U.S.

“We got over to the U.S. in November and have been stabled at Keeneland since then,” Vaughan said. “In (Alnaseem's) stateside-debut, she ran as we expected. She was training well but had to get used to learning how horses run here being quicker from the gates.”

Beschizza and Vaughan have teamed up several times in Europe prior to Beschizza moving his tack to the U.S. in late 2017. The 28-year-old Beschizza used to be Vaughan's primary stable jockey in Europe.

Vaughan took out his trainer's license in 2004 and was based at Newmarket until his move to Keeneland in 2020. He spent four years working in the U.S. after graduating from the Irish National Stud course. He served as the assistant trainer to Noel Chance prior to joining forces with the late Alec Stewart. Vaughan started training on his own following Stewart's death in 2004, eventually moving his stable to Newmarket in 2011.

In Europe, Vaughan campaigned multiple Group 2 winner Dame Malliot and Group 3 winner Robin Hoods Bay (GB).

“The Kentucky circuit is a good place to be based,” Vaughan said. “Being at Keeneland it gives you the option to ship to many tracks around the area including Churchill Downs.”

For more information on Vaughan, fans can follow him on his Twitter at @edvaughan1.

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