Clement Sends Out Formidable Duo In Star-Stacked E.P. Taylor Stakes
At 2h46, on October 17, 2021 • By WOODBINE
Ten fillies and mares, including Christophe Clement trainees La Dragontea (GB) and Mutamakina (GB), will vie for top honours in the Grade 1 $600,000 E.P. Taylor Stakes, while 10 starters chase top prize in the Grade 2 $250,000 Nearctic Stakes, Sunday at Woodbine.
The E.P. Taylor, a 1 ¼-mile turf test for fillies & mares, three-year-olds and upward, is complemented by the Nearctic, a six-furlong grass engagement for three-year-olds and upward.
Conditioner Christophe Clement will be represented by a pair of top contenders in the form of La Dragontea and Mutamakina.
A four-year-old daughter of Lope de Vega-La Concorde, La Dragontea will make her second straight start at Woodbine. Bred by Bartisan Racing Ltd., the dark bay took the Grade 2 Canadian Stakes on September 18, fending off a stiff challenge at the stretch call to win the 1 1/8-mile turf race by a length over Court Return.
“I think she ran very well,” said Clement. “[Joel] Rosario was very confident, and she was very impressive. She’s been improving all year long.”
It was the fourth win from 12 starts for the Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Rebecca Hillen-owned mare.
Mutamakina, a five-year-old daughter of Nathaniel-Joshua’s Princess, also comes into the E.P. Taylor off a winning effort at Woodbine.
The bay mare held on for a half-length score in the Grade 2 Dance Smartly Stakes on August 22, marking her fourth career win and second graded tally (she won the Grade 3 Long Island Stakes at Aqueduct last November).
“She’s a good filly too,” offered Clement. “She’s trained very well. Her last two works in New York have been good. Two weeks ago, she worked with Gufo, my good colt, and she worked as well as he did. And then I sent her out on her own with [jockey] Dylan Davis. She worked very well again. Both fillies are very sound, they look great. For me, as a trainer, it is very exciting.”
