Clement Starts Three in Bid for Fourth Long Island Win

Trainer Christophe Clement sends out a strong trio of contenders in defending winner Mutamakina (GB), graded stakes winner La Dragontea (GB), and graded stakes-placed, stakes-winning Sorrel (IRE) in the 64th running of $400,000 Long Island Stakes (G3T) Nov. 27 at Aqueduct Racetrack. Clement, a three-time winner of the 1 1/2-mile turf test for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up, notched the exacta last year when Mutamakina slid up the rail and collared pacesetting stablemate Traipsing in the last strides to the wire. En route to Saturday's engagement, Mutamakina captured a pair of graded stakes triumphs at Woodbine in Canada at 1 1/4 miles. Following a prominent score in the Dance Smartly Stakes (G2T) Aug. 22 over firm ground, Mutamakina squared off against La Dragontea in the E.P. Taylor Stakes (G1T) Oct. 17, fending off a late confrontation from her stablemate to win by a neck. Al Shira'aa Farms' Mutamakina, a 5-year-old mare by Nathanial (IRE), has been training forwardly since her last victory according to Clement, logging a four-furlong move in :50.10 over the Belmont turf. "She's been training very well. I'm very happy with her," Clement said. "She's a top-class mare. She's never trained so well than when she came back from Canada. Her last couple of works have been remarkable and I'm excited to run her back." Since finishing second to Mutamakina in the E.P. Taylor, La Dragontea was sold to Rosemont Stud at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November Mixed Sale for $1,375,000 but has remained in Clement's barn. "I'm delighted that she's back in the barn. She'll go to Australia next year; we'll try to do the best we can with her," Clement said. La Dragontea made up considerable ground in the E.P. Taylor, where she was last at the top of the stretch before weaving her way through traffic and coming up just shy of victory. Prior to her last start, the 4-year-old Lope de Vega (IRE) dark bay filly shipped to Woodbine and displayed stalking tactics when capturing her first stakes win in the Canadian Stakes Presented by the Japan Racing Association (G2T) Sept. 18 over good going. Rounding out Clement's contingent is Sorrel, who makes her first start since a troubled third to subsequent grade 1 winner War Like Goddess in the Orchid Stakes (G3T) March 27 at Gulfstream Park. The comebacking 4-year-old Dansili (GB) dark bay races for owners George Strawbridge Jr.'s Augustin Stable and James Wigan. Other entrants include Orglandes (FR), Harajuku (IRE), Summer in Saratoga, Candy Flower, and Luck Money. The Long Island is slated as race 9 on Saturday's 10-race program, which also features the $150,000 Discovery Stakes, the $150,000 Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship, and the $100,000 Central Park Stakes. Speaker's Corner, Bourbonic, and Miles D lead a short field in the Discovery at 1 1/8 miles on dirt, while Arrest Me Red, Turned Aside, and Value Proposition (GB) head a deep field in the Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship over six furlongs. Awad 1-2 finishers General Ken and Geno head the Central Park with Sy Dog, a four-length maiden winner on debut. The Central Park is for 2-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on turf.