Mutamakina's Long Island triumph makes for big Empire 6 payout

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - In midstretch it became pretty evident that trainer Christophe Clement was going to win Saturday’s Grade 3, $100,000 Long Island Stakes at Aqueduct.

The question was whether it was going to be with longshot Traipsing or favorite Mutamakina. But with a strong turn of foot and clear sailing on the rail, Mutakamina, the 9-5 choice under Dylan Davis, roared past Traipsing, a 26-1 shot under Kendrick Carmouche, to win the Long Island by three-quarters of a length. Traipsing was second by 1 3/4 lengths over Delta’s Kingdom.

The victory not only delighted Clement, it was worth $487,817.70 to the holder(s) of the only winning ticket in the Empire 6. The winning ticket was wagered through the Elite Turf Club and the investment was $4,311.20, according to the New York Racing Association. The winning sequence of 1-3-8-7-6-4 included Hawaiian Noises ($41.20), Return the Ring ($12.40), Never Surprised ($6.50), Kansas Kis ($33), Turned Aside ($12) and Mutamakina ($5.90).

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There would have been one winning ticket had Hungry Kitten won the Long Island. She never got involved and finished 11th. There would have been no winning tickets had Traipsing won the Long Island.

For a while, it looked like that might happen. Under Carmouche, Traipsing was a length clear through a quarter in 26.10 seconds, a half-mile in 52.62, six furlongs in 1:19.76 and a mile in 1:45.21. Beau Belle was second early before Eliade took second at the three-furlong pole.

Davis had Mutamakina in fifth position, only about four lengths off the pace, while saving ground along the inside.

Turning for home, Traipsing still seemed in command, but Davis found room where the course meets up with the chute and there is no rail. Davis asked his mare to run at that point, and she gobbled up the turf in just a few strides to gain the lead from Traipsing and get the win.

Davis said he was a little concerned at the top of the lane as Traipsing appeared to be pulling away.

Davis said Mutamakina “does take a little bit of time to get running. Once she did I knew it was over. Within the last eighth of a mile she was just getting into stride. I was just keeping out of her way and keeping her happy and she was able to get up, which was nice.”

Mutamakina, a Great Britain-bred daughter of Nathaniel owned by Al Shira’aa Farms, covered the 1 3/8 miles over good turf, in 2:21.08, and returned $5.90 as the favorite.

“I thought Traipsing set up a perfect pace and she looked great up until a sixteenth before the wire and the other filly was very game, I’m delighted,” said Clement, who captured his fourth victory in the Long Island. “Dylan gave a great ride, he was not a long way behind the pace.”

Clement said he would have to speak with the owners to find out if Mutamakina will race again in 2021 as a 5-year-old.

“Obviously, the way she ran today she could be an exciting prospect in the mile and a half division,” Clement said.