Mutamakina (GB) found herself behind horses coming out of the final turn as Candy Flower seemed on the precipice of taking the field gate to wire in the Grade 3 Long Island at Aqueduct Racetrack. A late move to the outside by jockey Dylan Davis and a driving surge in the race's final furlong gave the 5-year-old mare everything she needed for her second victory in the Long Island and her third straight graded stakes victory.
In the 1 1/2-mile stakes over firm turf, the daughter of Nathaniel (IRE) lingered toward the back of the pack, with Candy Flower running easily on the lead a length ahead of Sorrel and Harajuku. For the first mile, Mutamakina saved ground, running in fifth behind fellow Christophe Clement trainee La Dragontea. Through fractions of :24.20, :50.02, and 1:15, Candy Flower looked poised to take the field all the way, her lead 1 1/2 lengths as they hit the stretch at the Ozone Park, N.Y. track.
Entering the stretch, Mutamakina had traffic in front of her, so Davis tipped her out four-wide from the rail to find a clear lane. Running on the outside of La Dragontea, Mutamakina quickly made up ground, her late surge in the final furlong shortening Candy Flower's lead and then catching her just before the wire to win by a half-length. La Dragontea was third, with Luck Money fourth.
The final time for the 1 1/2 miles was 2:28.08. Find this race's chart here.
Mutamakina paid $6.60, $4.10, and $2.90. Candy Flower paid $15.60 and $6.80. La Dragontea paid $2.60.
Bred in England by Widgham Stud, Mutamakina is out of the Danehill mare Joshua's Princess (GB). She is owned by Al Shira'aa Farms. She was consigned by New England Stud and purchased by Shawn Dugan, agent, for $137,225 at the 2017 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. With her win in the G3 Long Island, Mutamakina has three wins in six starts in 2021, for a lifetime record of six wins in 17 starts and career earnings of $854,509. Her win gives trainer Christophe Clement his fourth win in this graded stakes.
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