Gufo, Slipstream Breeze Ahead Of Breeders’ Cup Tries

Trainer Christophe Clement sent a number of his stable stars to breeze over the inner turf Saturday at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., led by Otter Bend Stables' multiple Grade 1-winner Gufo [:48.66], who worked a half-mile in company with Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Peter Searles, and Patty Searles' graded-stakes placed New York-bred City Man [:49.26].

Clement said Gufo, a 4-year-old son of Declaration of War, is likely to make his next start in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf on November 6 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif., while City Man will target the $200,000 Mohawk at Belmont on Empire Showcase Day October 30.

“It was a good work. City Man in front; Gufo further back and finished very willing,” Clement said. “Gufo looked great. He will work back next week and then probably go to the Breeders' Cup. I'll speak to the owner today to make sure, but as long he's on board that's the plan.”

Gufo captured the Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational last October and added the Grade 1 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer to his ledger this summer at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Last out, the handsome chestnut settled for third in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic on October 9 over firm Belmont turf.

“He's one of the leading older horses on the grass in the country and I'm very happy with him,” Clement said.

Clement said the versatile City Man, a stakes-winner on dirt and turf, would prefer firmer footing in the 1 1/16-mile Mohawk.

Jump Sucker Stable's last-out Grade 3 Futurity-winner Slipstream [:51.14] breezed a half-mile in company with West Point Thoroughbreds', Chris Larsen, and Titletown Racing Stables' last-out Grade 3 Matron runner-up Gal in a Rush [:51.02].

“It was a good work. They both worked well and finished up very willingly,” Clement said.

Slipstream, by More Than Ready, captured the six-furlong Futurity on October 10 and is targeting the one-mile Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf on November 5 at Del Mar, while Gal in a Rush, by Ghostzapper, will point to the six-furlong $100,000 Stewart Manor for juvenile fillies here November 6.

Slipstream, who graduated at third asking sprinting seven furlongs over the Belmont turf in September, has seen his Beyer figures improve in each start, registering an 80 for his Futurity score.

“He's improving as he gets older and more mature. He's a nice horse,” Clement said.

Clement noted that last Sunday's Floral Park-winner Too Sexy, Slipstream's 4-year-old half-sister by Quality Road out of the Stormy Atlantic mare Cake Baby, will target the $150,000 Autumn Days at six furlongs on the turf at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y., on November 28.

Oak Bluff Stables' Therapist worked a half-mile solo in :50.40 in preparation for either the seven-furlong $100,000 Oyster Bay against open company on Friday or the Mohawk versus fellow state-breds on Saturday.

The 6-year-old Freud gelding, bred by Clement with Oak Bluff Stables, boasts a record of 27-9-3-6 with purse earnings of $715,865.

“He tries very hard. He's a great horse to own because you know he will always try his best,” Clement said.

Therapist ran second to Somelikeithotbrown in last year's Mohawk.

Moyglare Stud Farm's Beautiful Lover [:51.06] went a half-mile in company with Michael Dubb and Michael J. Caruso's New York-bred stakes-winner Classic Lady [:51.02].

The multiple graded-stakes placed Beautiful Lover is on target for the 12-furlong $150,000 Zagora on October 31, while Classic Lady will enter the Ticonderoga on Empire Showcase Day.

Last Sunday, Clement sent out the one-two finishers in the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario, with Al Shira'aa Farms' Mutamakina edging Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Rebecca Hillen's La Dragontea in the 10-furlong turf test.

“They both ran great. It was a big deal – the E.P. Taylor is a major race,” Clement said.

Mutamakina captured the Grade 2 Dance Smartly at Woodbine in August and Clement said the 5-year-old Nathaniel mare, who provided jockey Dylan Davis his first Grade 1 win, would make her next start in the 12-furlong $400,000 Grade 3 Long Island on November 27 at the Big A.

La Dragontea, a 4-year-old daughter of Lope De Vega, won the nine-furlong Grade 2 Canadian at Woodbine in September. She was recently supplemented to the Fasig-Tipton November Sale.

Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Darlene Bilinski's Senbei sprinted to a four-length score in the six-furlong New York Breeders' Futurity on October 18 at Finger Lakes Race Track in Farmington, N.Y.

Bred in the Empire State by Dr. Jerry Bilinski, the Candy Ride chestnut graduated at first asking in July at Saratoga and followed with a front-running win in the 6 ½-furlong Funny Cide in August at the same track.

Clement said he's enjoying the ride with the 2-year-old who has won 3-of-4 career starts and will now target the $100,000 Notebook at six-furlongs for state-breds on November 21 at the Big A.

“He won well. He's fun. He just keeps winning,” said Clement with a laugh.

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Graded Stakes Winner La Dragontea Supplemented To Fasig-Tipton November Sale

Fasig-Tipton has added another graded stakes winner to its upcoming November Sale. La Dragontea, second in Woodbine's Grade 1 E.P. Taylor Stakes this past Sunday, has been cataloged as Hip 267. She will be consigned as a racing/broodmare prospect by Hunter Valley Farm, agent.

Owned by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Rebecca Hillen, La Dragontea has had an outstanding 4-year-old season since arriving from Europe and entering the barn of trainer Christophe Clement.  Her three wins this year include Woodbine's G2 Canadian Stakes, where she stalked the pace going 1 1/8 miles to win in hand. She followed that victory up with her second-place finish in the E.P. Taylor – where she changed tactics and sat well off the pace – closing strongly to lose by just a neck going 1 1/4 miles.

La Dragontea is a daughter of multiple classic winner and top European sire Lope de Vega. One of the hottest young sires in the world, he is already the sire of 49 group or graded stakes winners, 13 of which are Group or Grade 1.

La Dragontea's dam La Concorde, a winning daughter of Sadler's Wells, is closely related to European champion and champion sire Montjeu. Her immediate family includes Group 1 winners Galileo Gold, Goldream, Again, and Aclaim.

“La Dragontea should appeal to a wide variety of racing and breeding operations,” said Fasig-Tipton president Boyd Browning. “She is beautifully bred, has current Grade 1 form, and at just four years old she has a lot of racing still ahead of her.”

The Fasig-Tipton November Sale will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 9, in Lexington, Ky. The sale will begin at 2 p.m.

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Mutamakina Gets The Win In E. P. Taylor At Woodbine

In the final leg of the Ladies of the Lawn series, Mutamakina (GB), trained by Christophe Clement, followed up her win in the series' first leg, the Grade 2 Dance Smartly, with a win in the Grade 1 E. P. Taylor Stakes at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario.

Kalifornia Queen took the lead from the break of the 1 1/4-mile stakes, slowing the pace down to :27.26 for the first quarter and :54.46 for the first half. Running in second was Mutamakina, with Dylan Davis, staying to Kalifornia Queen's outside until the far turn.

As they rounded the final bend, Mutamakina pulled even with Kalifornia Queen, the two battling for the lead into the stretch. Kalifornia Queen stayed with Mutamakina until late stretch, tiring as the Clement trainee eked out a short lead. Behind them, La Dragontea, winner of the Grade 2 Canadian Stakes, the second leg of the Ladies of the Lawn series, surged after being last early, trapped behind horses until Joel Rosario tipped her outside of Mutamakina to bid for the lead. The Clement mare held on for the win, finishing a neck in front of La Dragontea. Kalifornia Queen held on for third, and Waliyak, in her first start since shipping over from Europe, was fourth.

The final time for the 1 1/4-mile E. P. Taylor Stakes was 2:09.14. Find this race's chart here.

Mutamakina paid $19.80, $8.20, and $5.80. La Dragontea paid $5.90 and $4.40. Kalifornia Queen paid $4.00.

Bred in England by Widgham Stud, Mutamakina is a 5-year-old mare by Nathaniel (IRE) out of the Danehill mare Joshua's Princess (GB). She is owned by Al Shira'aa Farms. Consigned by New England Stud, she was purchased by Shawn Dugan, agent, for $137,225 at the 2017 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. With her win in the G1 E. P. Taylor, Mutamakina has a record of two wins in five starts in 2021, for a lifetime record of 16-5-3-3 and career earnings of $634,509.

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Clement Sends Formidable Pair For Stacked E.P. Taylor Stakes

Ten fillies and mares, including Christophe Clement trainees La Dragontea (GB) and Mutamakina (GB), will vie for top honors in the Grade 1 $600,000 E.P. Taylor Stakes, while 10 starters chase top prize in the Grade 2 $250,000 Nearctic Stakes, Sunday at Woodbine.

The E.P. Taylor, a 1 ¼-mile turf test for fillies & mares, three-year-olds and upward, is complemented by the Nearctic, a six-furlong grass engagement for 3-year-olds and upward.

Conditioner Christophe Clement will be represented by a pair of top contenders in the form of La Dragontea and Mutamakina.

A four-year-old daughter of Lope de Vega-La Concorde, La Dragontea will make her second straight start at Woodbine. Bred by Bartisan Racing Ltd., the dark bay took the Grade 2 Canadian Stakes on Sept. 18, fending off a stiff challenge at the stretch call to win the 1 1/8-mile turf race by a length over Court Return.

“I think she ran very well,” said Clement. “[Joel] Rosario was very confident, and she was very impressive. She's been improving all year long.”

It was the fourth win from 12 starts for the Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Rebecca Hillen-owned mare.

Since arriving in North America, La Dragontea has recorded a mark of 3-0-0 from five starts.

“She had two wins in New York. She ran in the stakes race [fourth in the Grade 3 Robert G. Dick Memorial, on July 10] at Delaware and she did not get the best race scenario. She's been a nice filly and she's improving. It's exciting to have her. Her works have been good, and I just hope that the turf is not too soft. I don't mind it soft, just not too soft because it is always a bit extreme.”

Mutamakina, a five-year-old daughter of Nathaniel-Joshua's Princess, also comes into the E.P. Taylor off a winning effort at Woodbine.

The bay mare held on for a half-length score in the Grade 2 Dance Smartly Stakes on Aug. 22, marking her fourth career win and second graded tally (she won the Grade 3 Long Island Stakes at Aqueduct last November).

“She's a good filly too,” offered Clement. “She's trained very well. Her last two works in New York have been good. Two weeks ago, she worked with Gufo, my good colt, and she worked as well as he did. And then I sent her out on her own with [jockey] Dylan Davis. She worked very well again. Both fillies are very sound, they look great. For me, as a trainer, it is very exciting.”

Bred in Britain by Widgham Stud, Mutamakina is owned by Al Shiraa'aa Farms.

Clement, who has enjoyed great success at Woodbine over the years, including a Pattison Canadian International triumph with Relaxed Gesture in 2005, is looking to add an E.P. Taylor title to his résumé.

“I've been lucky at Woodbine, but never in the E.P. Taylor. Hopefully, we can change that luck on Sunday.”

Standing in the way is an accomplished group of turfers, including Court Return, a five-year-old daughter of Court Vision, who brings a mark of 2-6-1 from 19 races into Sunday's race. Bred and owned by Ivan Dalos, the Ontario-bred finished second to La Dragontea in the Canadian. The bay is trained by Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee Josie Carroll.

Etoile, from the stable of Chad Brown, will look to win consecutive runnings of the E.P. Taylor. Last year, the five-year-old French-bred daughter of Siyouni finished second in the Grade 2 Dance Smartly before her E.P. Taylor score. Owned by Peter Brant, Mrs. M.V. Magnier, and Mrs. Paul Shanahan, the bay mare, 4-3-0 from 12 career starts, once again finished second in the Dance Smartly.

Brown also sends out Kalifornia Queen (GER), a four-year-old daughter of Lope de Vega (IRE) and Great Island, a five-year-old daughter of Scat Daddy. Kalifornia Queen (3-2-2 from 12 starts) was second in the Grade 3 Matchmaker this July, a race won by Great Island (4-2-2 from eight starts).

Trainer Roger Varian sends out Waliyak (FR), a four-year-old daughter of Le Havre, who has a record of 4-5-3 from 14 starts. In her latest effort, the dark bay, owned by Fawzi Abdulla Nass, won the Group 3 Prix de Bertrand Tarragon on September 17.

Family Way (4-1-2 from 11 starts), a four-year-old daughter of Uncle Mo, Merveilleux (4-3-2 from 15 starts), a four-year-old daughter of Paynter, and Keyflower (FR, 2-2-2 from eight starts), a three-year-old daughter of Kheleyf, complete the field.

Flying Trapeze won the inaugural running of the E.P. Taylor Stakes (known as the Nettie Handicap until 1981) in 1956. Trainers Lou Cavalaris Jr., Frank Merrill Jr., and Maurice Zilber have won three editions of the race. Kitty Girl (1957, 1958) is the only two-time winner.

The E.P. Taylor is the final event in Woodbine's Ladies of the Lawn Series.

Launched in 2019, Woodbine's Ladies of the Lawn is a points-based bonus series that includes three premier turf races for fillies and mares. The owner of the horse who has accumulated the most points upon the conclusion of the three races will receive a $50,000 bonus, while the owner whose horse has accumulated the second and third most points will receive a $15,000 and $10,000 bonus, respectively.

The Ladies of the Lawn Series began on Sunday, Aug. 22, with the Dance Smartly Stakes, followed by the Canadian Stakes on Saturday, Sept. 18. The inaugural winner of the 2019 Ladies of the Lawn Series was Starship Jubilee, Canada's reigning Horse of the Year.

Court Return, La Dragontea and Mutamakina share top spot with 10 points each. Merveilleux (8 points) and Etoile (7 points) are next.

As part of the Ladies of the Lawn series, Woodbine is supporting charity Rethink Breast Cancer. From August 22 to October 17, racing enthusiasts can bid on specially designed pillows created from new saddle towels featuring the Rethink Breast Cancer logo. Proceeds from the online auction will be donated to Rethink Breast Cancer to assist those living with breast cancer.

To view and bid on items, click on the link: https://www.32auctions.com/LadiesOfTheLawn

First post on Sunday is 12:55 p.m. Racing fans can watch and wager on the action through HPIbet.com and the Dark Horse Bets app.

$600,000 E.P. TAYLOR STAKES
Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Walyiak – Jack Mitchell – Roger Varian
2 – Etoile – Irad Ortiz Jr. – Chad Brown
3 – Court Return – Luis Contreras – Josie Carroll
4 – Kalifornia Queen – Flavien Prat – Chad Brown
5 – Family Way – Kazushi Kimura – Brendan Walsh
6 – Mutamakina – Dylan Davis – Christophe Clement
7 – Merveilleux – Antonio Gallardo – Kevin Attard
8 – Great Island – Rafael Hernandez – Chad Brown
9 – Keyflower – Eddy Hardouin – Mauricio Delcher Sanchez
10 – La Dragontea – Joel Rosario – Christophe Clement

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