|
|
Mauralakana extends racing career with Beverly D. win Robert Scarborough's MAURALAKANA (Fr) (Muhtathir [GB]) was scheduled to be retired to the breeding shed after Saturday's $750,000 Beverly D. S. (G1), but after a 1 1/4-length win under Kent Desormeaux, the Christophe Clement trainee will now begin preparing for the October 24 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) at Santa Anita. The bay five-year-old earned an automatic berth in that 11-furlong grass event when finishing the 1 3/16-mile Beverly D. in 1:55 on the firm turf. Dreaming of Anna (Rahy) broke on top from her rail post and proceeded to lead the way around the course, setting splits of :24 1/5, :48 3/5 and 1:12 3/5 while in hand for jockey Garrett Gomez. All the while, Mauralakana was content to run along on the outside while in fourth. Entering the stretch, Dreaming of Anna was stubbornly holding on to the lead while Precious Kitten (Catienus) tried to get past, but in the end it was Mauralakana who managed to overtake the front runner and draw off to earn her first Grade 1 victory. "I was pretty confident in her turn of foot, so I wasn't worried about the ones in front of me," Desormeaux said. "I just didn't want anyone coming from behind to get me." Sent off the near 5-2 second choice, Mauralakana paid $6.80, $4 and $3.40 while starting the $65.40 exacta, $1,425.80 trifecta and $7,616.40 superfecta (4-8-7-1). Communique (Smart Strike) split horses and closed with a rush to take down second, giving back $9 and $6 at 12-1 for holding Toque de Queda (GB) (Danehill [GB]) to third by three parts of a length. Sent off the 53-1 longest shot in the field, Toque de Queda was worth $13. Dreaming of Anna was another half-length back in fourth and followed by Precious Kitten, Cicerole (Fr) (Barathea [Ire]), Meribel (Peaks and Valleys), Ciao (Lear Fan) and Rosinka (Ire) (Soviet Star). Mauralakana has now won five-of-six races in 2008, with her other scores coming in the New York S. (G2), Sheepshead Bay H. (G2), The Very One H. (G3) and Mairzy Doates H. The bay's only loss this season came as a runner-up effort in the Orchid H. (G3), and she also owns placings in the 2006 Queen Elizabeth II Invitational Challenge Cup S. (G1) and 2005 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere - Grand Criterium (Fr-G1). The mare has improved her career mark to 26-11-3-3 and has now banked $1,449,512 in lifetime earnings. Bred by S.A.R.L. Classic Breeding and M. Hassan in France, Mauralakana brought $900,000 at last year's Keeneland November sale. She is out of the winning Jimkana (Double Bed [Fr]), who also produced listed winner Petit Calva (Desert King). Jimkana is herself a full sister to multiple highweight and Group 1 winner Jim and Tonic (Fr).
 Send this article to a friend
|
|
