A full field go in Saturday’s Long Island (G3) at Aqueduct. (Photo credit: © Cheryl Quigley | Dreamstime.com).
Trainer Christophe Clement sends out a trio of runners led by Mutamakina in Saturday’s $100,000 Long Island (G3) at Aqueduct, a 1 3/8-mile test for fillies and mares on the inner turf.
The race drew a full field of 12 along with Lovely Lucky sitting on the also-eligible list. The Long Island is the nightcap of a 10-race card at Aqueduct that gets underway at 11:50am ET.
The race is one of four stakes on the card. The supporting features are the Discovery (G3), Central Park and the Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship, each with a purse of $100,000.
Clement will be busy in the Long Island. In addition to Mutamakina (7-2) he will saddle Wegetsdamunnys (15-1) and Trapsing (12-1).
Mutamakina had a rough trip in her U.S. debut in the Zagora at Belmont Park going 1 ½ miles, checking in third while beaten a half-length for the top spot which was won by Luck Money. She was shuffled back after getting caught in behind foes.
“She ran a very good race last out,” said Clement. “She’s been training forwardly and we’ll take her to Florida after this race.”
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The pacesetter likely will be the Michael Dickson trained Theodora B. (6-1), who won the Dance Smartly (G2) at Woodbine and TVG at Kentucky Downs in gate to wire fashion before setting the pace and weakening to finish fifth in her last outing in the E.P. Taylor (G1) back at Woodbine.
“She’s doing very well, fresh and sound.” said Dickinson. “She’s stayed very sound, and we’ve discovered she’s happiest on the front end, which is where she’ll be again on Saturday. It’s not anything we planned for, it just happened that nobody wanted the lead [in the Dance Smartly], and she’s been in great form.”
Trainer Chad Brown will be well represented with Eliade (9-2), who is coming off a victory against second level optional claimers in her last outing at 1 ½ miles at Keeneland.
Let’s head out to Aqueduct for Saturday’s featured race of the day:
Aqueduct Race 10 The Long Island G3 (4:13 ET)
#4 Mutamakina 7-2
#9 Theodora B. 6-1
#1 Eliade 9-2
#6 English Affair 8-1
Mutamakina
The Clement trainee made her U.S. debut in the Zagora last out as the favorite and she did not have the best of trips or rides in a third-place finish, beaten a half-length going 1 1/2 miles over yielding ground. The filly tracked the early pace while saving ground, had to steady when caught in tight at the 5/16’s getting shuffled back and came with a good late run when angled to the outside, missing the place spot by a neck. A clean trip and she probably would have won this. She was eighth in the Prix Jean Romanet (G1) two back, the winner Audarya winning the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) in her next outing. Our top pick ran second to Sottsass last September in the Prix Niel (G2), the winner taking the 2020 Arc (G1). He picks up Davis and the barn’s go to guy Rosario is riding at Del Mar this weekend.
Theodora B.
This mare set the early fractions and weakened to finish fifth last out in the E.P. Taylor (G1) at Woodbine going 1 1/4 miles over good ground. The mare won her two previous starts in gate to wire fashion, the TVG at Kentucky Downs two back and the Dance Smartly (G2) at Woodbine three back. Her lone trip here was a tough neck loss in the Forever Together last November. She looks like the main speed in here and is in good hands with the Mad Genius Dickinson. The trainer is not sure what happened last out and looking for her to bounce back with a better effort here.
Eliade
The filly saved ground early, angled off the rail and came with a good late rally to get up and beat Alw-2 optional claimers last out at Keeneland going 1 1/2 miles. The filly checked in fifth two back in the Glen Falls (G2) at Saratoga at this distance, beaten two lengths for the top spot. The winner was Civil Union, who came back to win the Flower Bowl (G1) in her next start and then was fifth beaten 1 3/4 lengths in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf. She looks as if she is heading in the right direction for Brown.
Wagering:
WIN: Mutamakina to win at 3-1 or better.
EXACTA: 4 / 1,3,6,9 and 4,9 / 1,4,9
