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Mauralakana still top of the heap in New York Robert Scarborough's MAURALAKANA (Fr) (Muhtathir [GB]) showed her customary burst of speed to snatch the lead in the stretch of Saturday's $242,000 New York S. (G2) at Belmont Park, but had to keep that momentum going all the way to the wire to repel a vigorous inside challenge from French import Dynaforce (Dynaformer). At the line, Mauralakana had a neck on that rival with the hard charging Hostess (Chester House) another neck behind in third. The odds-on 3-5 choice under Kent Desormeaux, Mauralakana returned $3.30, $2.20 and $2.10 while keying the $10 exacta and $22.20 trifecta (3-1-2). The order of the field changed little through the opening mile as Tejida (Rahy) reeled off fractions of :24 1/5, :49 3/5, 1:13 4/5 and 1:38. Indeed, Mauralakana was the only one who improved position during that time, advancing from fourth to third down the backside while racing along the inside. Pressure was eventually applied to Tejida at the top of the stretch, with Mauralakana swinging out three wide and accelerating to the front. Dynaforce put on a good show but could not get by the winner, paying $3 and $2.20 as the near 3-1 second choice. Hostess turned in a solid rally after trailing early, giving back $2.40 at 7-1. The final time for 1 1/4 miles on the firm inner turf was 2:01 1/5. "The ground is a little more glib than last time," Desormeaux said, referring to Mauralakana's much easier three-length win in the May 24 Sheepshead Bay H. (G2). "She kicked just as hard; unfortunately, so did they. It turned into a fight, a battle, and she kept going." Hostess had 1 1/4 lengths on Tejida with Archstone (Arch) trailing 5 1/4 lengths back. Spring Waltz (Silver Charm), entered for the main track only, was scratched and instead turned in a published five-furlong work over Belmont's main track Saturday morning. The victory was the fourth in five starts this season for Mauralakana, who has also scored this year in The Very One H. (G3) at Gulfstream and the Mairzy Doates H. at Calder. Her only loss was a second-place finish to Hostess in the Orchid H. (G3) at Gulfstream, and she became racing's newest millionaire when improving her record to 25-10-3-3, $1,013,012. Bred by SARL Classic Breeding & M. Hassan, Mauralakana was trained prior to this year by Patrick Biancone, who conditioned her to a second-place finish in the 2006 Queen Elizabeth II Invitational Challenge Cup (G1) at Keeneland and a victory in the 2007 Locust Grove H. (G3) at Churchill. Mauralakana has also placed in the Glens Falls H. (G3) and Noble Damsel H. (G3) during her career. Before joining the Biancone barn, Mauralakana was a Group 3 winner and Group 1-placed in France. She was purchased by Scarborough for $900,000 at last year's Keeneland November sale. Following the Sheepshead Bay, trainer Christophe Clement said that plans for Mauralakana, who had been bought as a broodmare prospect, were for her to be covered before September 1 and then shipped to Australia. He also stated that the August 9 Beverly D S. (G1) at Arlington Park was a goal for the five-year-old mare. Jimkana (Double Bed [Fr]), the dam of Mauralakana, won just once in 41 starts in France, but has reared two stakes winners from three foals to race. Petit Calva (Desert King), a half-sister to Mauralakana, won two listed events and placed in a French Group 3 event. Jimkana is herself a full sister to renowned globetrotter and multiple highweight Jim and Tonic (Fr).
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