Mauralakana seeks to extend win streak in New York

MAURALAKANA (Fr) (Muhtathir [GB]), a convincing three-length winner of the

Sheepshead Bay H. (G2) last out, will seek her third consecutive stakes victory when she

heads to the starting gate in Saturday's $250,000 New York S. (G2) at Belmont

Park. The five-year-old mare has really come on since being switched to

conditioner Christophe Clement this season, recording a 3-1-0 mark in four

starts, and she's clearly the top draw in the 1 1/4-mile New York, which drew

only six distaffers, including a main-track only runner.

A French Group 3 victress in 2005, Mauralakana earned her first U.S. stakes

win last summer when garnering the Locust Grove H. (G3) but recorded only one

placing in her next four starts, wrapping up 2007 with a sixth in the Yellow

Ribbon S. (G1). She successfully returned to the races this year off a

five-month vacation in early March, capturing The Very One H. (G3) in her first

start for Clement, and then finished second in the Orchid H. (G3). Mauralakana

rebounded to capture the lucrative Mairzy Doates H. in her next outing, and she

earned her first victory over Belmont Park's turf when posting a convincing

score in the 1 3/8-mile Sheepshead Bay last time out. Kent Desormeaux will

return to the saddle aboard the 123-pound highweight.

Orchid heroine HOSTESS (Chester House) will square off against Maurlakana

once again. Trained by James Bond, the five-year-old mare finished third in the

2007 New York S. and filled that same spot in the last two runnings of the

Sheepshead Bay. Hostess, who has placed in five-of-six starts over the turf at

Belmont, will receive a rider switch to Rajiv Maragh on Saturday.

French stakes winner DYNAFORCE (Dynaformer) will make her U.S. debut in the

New York. Last seen finishing third behind the well-regarded Satwa Queen (Fr)

(Muhtathir [GB]) in the Prix Jean Romanet S. (Fr-G2) last August, the

five-year-old will make her first start for Bill Mott while picking up the

services of John Velazquez. TEJIDA (Rahy), who exits second-place finishes in

the Bewitch S. (G3) and The Very One, rates consideration for Michael Matz, and

Sabin S. runner-up ARCHSTONE (Arch) rounds out the main body of the field.

Dyanforce will lead the post parade under a 116-pound impost. Next comes

Hostess, 120; Mauralakana; Archstone, Mike Luzzi, 116; and Tejida, Carlos

Marquez Jr., 116. Rampart H. (G2) queen SPRING WALTZ (Silver Charm), who

presently owns a four-race win skein, will run only if the race is switched to

the main track.