Trainer Miguel Clement sends out a trio of European imports, including favored La Mehana, in the $500,000 Flower Bowl Stakes (G2T) Aug. 30 over 1 3/8 miles on the inner turf at Saratoga Race Course.
Now 6, the daughter of Al Wukair was purchased by Clement's late father, Christophe Clement, acting as agent, for the equivalent of US$430,503 at the 2023 Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale. Now owned by LSU Stables, she's raced a dozen times in the U.S. since the purchase, with a record of 4-0-5, including a romping win by 8 3/4 lengths in the Glens Falls Stakes (G2T) at Saratoga July 27.
"She is ticking along nicely," Clement said. "She was an impressive winner of the Glens Falls—she has an affinity for soft turf which is shown on her form in Europe. She's also getting good. Her start two back was very impressive at Aqueduct. It's funny to say, but even as a 6-year-old, she's improving."
Partly cloudy skies are forecast for Saturday, suggesting the ground will likely be firmer than on the day of the Glens Falls. Kendrick Carmouche has the call on La Mehana.
Clement also sends out another European import in Moyglare Stud Farm homebred Bellezza, who will make her fourth domestic start in the Flower Bowl. The daughter of Siyouni won the Sheepshead Bay Stakes (G3T) at Aqueduct Racetrack in her United States debut, when Jaime Rodriguez was in the irons, and he gets the call for the first time since that race.
Like Clement's other two runners, longshot In Time began her career in Europe. She has raced exclusively in allowance or allowance optional claiming company since coming to this country in late 2023, with two wins in eight starts and six top-three finishes.
The well-traveled Irish-bred Be Your Best, the second choice at 5-2 on the morning line, exits a third-place finish to Charlene's Dream in the Beverly D. Stakes (G2T) Aug. 9 at Colonial Downs. Her showing followed a 2 3/4-length front-running victory in the Gamely Stakes (G1T) in May at Santa Anita Park in which she netted a 110 Equibase Speed Figure.
"I thought (Be Your Best) ran well in the Beverly D., it's just it kind of became a tricky race pace-wise," said trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. "We took back and let the other horse go and that horse kept going. We didn't think that other filly could go the distance, but she did. I think we compromised our horse a little bit by giving up the lead, but hindsight is always 20/20 and we'll move forward now and hopefully she can rebound in this race.
"She's coming back quick from the Beverly D., but she seems like she bounced out well and this is a 'win and you're in,' so that plays into it."
Mike Ryan's Be Your Best will break from post 7 with Edgard Zayas in the irons.
Completing the field is Flying P Stable's Amber Cascade from the Mike Maker barn; graded stakes-winning Marksman Queen for trainer Graham Motion and owner Cayton Park Stud; grade 2-placed Long Ago for William Morey and Chris Nolan; and Madame Mischief for Jorge Delgado and Amo Racing USA.
The Flower Bowl is a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In event for the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) Nov. 1 at Del Mar.
Saratoga Race Course, Saturday, August 30, 2025, Race 10Entries: Flower Bowl S. (G2T)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Marksman Queen (GB) Luan Machado 122 H. Graham Motion 8/1 2 2Amber Cascade (KY) Jose Lezcano 120 Michael J. Maker 10/1 3 3Long Ago (GB) Ricardo Santana, Jr. 120 William E. Morey 6/1 4 4La Mehana (FR) Kendrick Carmouche 124 Miguel Clement 2/1 5 5In Time (FR) Dylan Davis 120 Miguel Clement 15/1 6 6Madame Mischief (KY) Emisael Jaramillo 120 Jorge Delgado 20/1 7 7Be Your Best (IRE) Edgard J. Zayas 124 Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. 5/2 8 8Bellezza (IRE) Jaime Rodriguez 122 Miguel Clement 4/1 9 9Amanda's Folly (NY) Jose Lezcano 124 Linda Rice 5/2
