By J.N. Campbell
La Mehana (Fr) (Al Wukair {Ire}) made a shrewd move up the rail in the final furlong and earned the first graded/group stakes win of her career in the GIII Waya at the Big A on Friday.
Prior to going for €400,000 last December at the Arqana Mixed Sale, La Mehana began her career as a late juvenile in France under the care of Henri-Alex Pantall where after a second-place debut she made the switch to the yard of Jean-Claude Rouget. Over the course of the next two years, the bay won a stakes at three in Deauville and as a 4-year-old she captured black-type at Chantilly and Saint-Cloud. In her final start on the continent, she finished third in the G1 Qatar Prix de Royallieu Stakes at ParisLongchamp in late September.
Coming to the U.S., LSU Stables's acquisition was third in both the GIII Orchid Stakes at Gulfstream Park in March and the GIII Sheepshead Bay Stakes during the Belmont at the Big A meet in early May. The 5-year-old was last seen running fifth in the GIII Robert G. Dick Memorial Stakes at Delaware Park July 7.
Sent on her way as a 9-1 shot here, the mare was content to settle at the back of the field as Idea Generation (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) was keen to lead passing the grandstand for the first time. The pacesetter was chased by Immensitude (Fr) (lawman {Fr}) up the backstretch and the rest of the field started to uncork around the far turn. With the speed all but spent entering the lane, La Mehana began to mount a charge along the fence. The Clement trainee surged past Immensitude with perfect timing and got up in the final jumps. At 70 cents on the dollar, the favorite McKulik (GB) (Frankel {GB}) finished fifth.
“I did think she [La Mehana] was going to be a little bit closer, but she ran great,” said trainer Christophe Clement. “She's never showed that good of a kick before. So, I guess when you wait, she shows a better kick. Maybe we learned something. She was always very forward in all her races in Europe–with me, too. Today, Kendrick [Carmouche] was very patient, he never gave up and she ran great.”
Pedigree Notes:
La Mehana's sire (by Dream Ahead) has only one other graded/group stakes winner to his credit in Princess Badee (Motivator). A half-sister to French multiple group stakes winner Watar (Ire) (Marju {Ire}), Oceanie's last registered foal is current unraced 3-year-old, Save Your Tears (Ire) (Calyx {GB}).
Friday, Belmont at the Big A
WAYA S.-GIII, $200,000, Belmont The Big A, 10-4, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 3/8mT, 2:17.64, fm.
1–LA MEHANA (FR), 122, m, 5, by Al Wukair (Ire)
1st Dam: Oceanie (Fr), by Dansili (GB)
2nd Dam: Ombrie (GB), by Zafonic
3rd Dam: One Way Street (Ire), by Habitat
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. (€55,000 RNA Ylg '20 ARDEAY; €400,000 4yo '23 ARQDEN). O-LSU Stables; B-S.A. Haras du Mezeray (FR); T-Christophe Clement; J-Kendrick Carmouche. $110,000. Lifetime Record: MSW-Fr, 16-6-1-3, $322,672. *1/2 to Ocean Fantasy (Fr) (Make Believe {GB}), Hwt. Filly-Ger, GSW-Ger. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Immensitude (Fr), 122, f, 4, Lawman (Fr)–Ma Petite Poule (Fr), by Elusive City. (€80,000 Ylg '21 ARQDOY). O-Wathnan Racing; B-Isabelle Corbani (FR); T-William I. Mott. $40,000.
3–Beautiful Love (Ire), 122, f, 3, Siyouni (Fr)–Powder Snow, by Dubawi (Ire). O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charles Appleby. $24,000.
Margins: NK, 1 1/4, HF. Odds: 9.60, 9.90, 4.10.
Also Ran: Avenue Niel (Ire), McKulick (GB), Idea Generation (Ire). Scratched: Amanda's Folly, Movie Moxy, Peak Popularity, Star Fortress (Ire), Surprisingly.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
LA MEHANA shines in the Grade 3 Waya Stakes with @KendrickCarmou1 aboard! A fantastic victory at 9-1 for trainer @clementstable and owner LSU Stables. pic.twitter.com/bGezlpOBZW
— NYRA (🌳) (@TheNYRA) October 4, 2024
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