An eye-popping winner of the Glens Falls Stakes (G2T) two starts back, La Mehana looms a worthy favorite in the Oct. 5 $175,000 Waya Stakes (G3T) at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Trained by Miguel Clement for LSU Stables, La Mehana was victorious in last year's Waya, securing what was the first of her three North American stakes wins. The 6-year-old daughter of Al Wukair has proved a consistent customer in the older filly and mare turf division this year, and a particularly formidable foe over distances of 1 3/8 miles or longer. The Waya is staged over 1 3/8 miles.
La Mehana, fourth in the Flower Bowl Stakes (G2T) in her most recent outing, will look to replicate her dazzling Glens Falls performance, in which she routed he rivals by 8 3/4 lengths over a yielding turf course, in Sunday's race. Manuel Franco rides.
"La Mehana can handle any ground," Clement said. "If there's rain in the forecast, that is fine because she is a remarkably efficient mover. She can handle anything thrown at her."
Beach Bomb, another Waya contender on the rebound for trainer Graham Motion, could certainly throw a curveball in the Waya, especially if she gets loose on the front end.
One of two entered for trainer Graham Motion, along with the multiple group stakes-placed Sirona, Beach Bomb posted two gate-to-wire grade 3 scores at Gulfstream Park over the winter before giving She Feels Pretty all she could handle in the New York Stakes (G1T) June 6. The South African group 1 winner has failed to hit the board in her two starts since that effort.
Entries: Waya S. (G3T)
Belmont at the Big A, Sunday, October 5, 2025, Race 6
- Grade IIIT
- 1 3/8m
- Turf
- $175,000
- 3 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
- 3:33 PM (local)
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Wgt | Trainer | M/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lady Firefoot (KY) | Christopher Elliott | 122 | Melanie Giddings | - |
| 2 | Beach Bomb (SAF) | Javier Castellano | 126 | H. Graham Motion | - |
| 3 | Alimara (FR) | Joel Rosario | 122 | Chad C. Brown | - |
| 4 | Village Voice (GB) | Dylan Davis | 122 | Chad C. Brown | - |
| 5 | La Mehana (FR) | Manuel Franco | 126 | Miguel Clement | - |
| 6 | Noir (FR) | Samuel Marin | 122 | Todd A. Pletcher | - |
| 7 | Alluring Angel (GB) | Kendrick Carmouche | 122 | William I. Mott | - |
| 8 | Big Beautiful (IRE) | Eric Cancel | 122 | Anthony W. Dutrow | - |
| 9 | Sirona (GER) | Jaime Rodriguez | 122 | H. Graham Motion | - |
| 10 | American Sonja (GB) | Ricardo Santana, Jr. | 126 | Brendan P. Walsh | - |
| 11 | Youknownothing (MD) | Jose Lezcano | 122 | Miguel Clement | - |
| 12 | Amanda's Folly (NY) | Kendrick Carmouche | 126 | Linda Rice | - |
| 13 | Midtown Lights (NY) | Rider TBA | 126 | Ilkay Kantarmaci | - |
