The Tempted (Grade 3)- $200.000 Purse
AQU- For Fillies Two Years Old
One Mile on the Dirt
November 4, 2015

June Star came into the Tempted on a two-race winning streak.  The first of those wins was in impressive company as she won the CTBA Stakes.  The second win was a four horse allowance n the turf a little more then a month after.   Her CTBA Stakes win came after a third place finish against the likes of Notarized Kate in the Debutante, so there was some confusion as to why she was taken out of stakes company and dropped into an allowance in the heart of BC qualification season.   If she needed to prove herself to her trainer, it’s safe to say she did that today as she takes the Grade 3 Tempted at AQU.   Now, it’s a pretty safe bet that she will return to races that also feature the likes of Notarized Kate again.  Despite being our second choice, we were a little surprised to see her go off at 5/1.  Not a huge longshot, but certainly a profitable price.  Nakamura Stables wins the stake for the first time, as does jockey J Alvarado.  Here’s how it went down.

1st- 2- June Star (5/1)- Our eventual race winner stayed within a close distance of the early pace for Nakamura Stables, not getting up to press it, but content to run fourth about two to three lengths for the backstretch trip and into the turn.  During the turn, J Alvarado looked to move his filly three wide for the turn.  Though circumstance first led that to become four wide, and then ultimately five wide by the time they hit the top of the stretch.  That did not bother June Star one bit as she was ready to showcase her best ability.  She was full of run for the stretch, and needed to be.  Summer Sampler was charging hard along the rail and Alvarado would not allow his filly to give in.  June Star obliged, and gave everything she could all the way to the end.   Fittingly on this unusually warm day at AQU in November, we had a June Star and a Summer Sampler battling hard all the way to the wire.  In the end, the photo goes to June Star, in a time of 1:35.83.  Congratulations to the connections! June Star is a two year old filly by Sven (Swarley) and out of Seducing Star (by Knowledge Geek).   She was bred in California as a yearling by Nakamura Stables, the only trainer for which she has ever known.

2nd- 1- Summer Sampler (3/1)- Assumed a midpack position early for Downwind Stables, running about a length behind June Star while running along the rail in the backstretch.  This rail trip proved to be very beneficial during the turn as when their started to be some battling for position between the others, room to the inside of Quest opened up and J Lezcano pounced on his opportunity.  Summer Sampler was in an all out drive for the stretch run but the problem was that filly about five wide in June Star.  She would do all she could, and tried to reel her in, and she would get close.  Very, painfully close.  It would have been Downwind’s second straight Tempted win.

3rd- 3- Spider (12/1)- The Blushing Meadows entry was initially the quickest out of the gate, but then opted to assume a stalking position behind the two frontrunners as they made the run down the long backstretch.  Made a move midway through the turn to split Quest and Stolen Secret, and this plan would set her up well for the stretch.    The progress stalled when she drew even with Stolen Secret.  Although she was still in good stride, she was no match for the top two.

4th- 7- Stolen Secret (2/1)- The post time favorite as well as our pick got off to a good start, and would soon assume the lead in the early moments.   She would be the one to set the opening quarter time, doing so in :23.75.  In the turn, she would hang with Quest, but would not have anything for June Star or Summer Sampler.  Unlike Quest, who backed out of it, Stolen Secret showed some fight and tried to hang on for third over Spider all the way to the wire.

5th- 4- Morgan Le Fay (7/2)- The Paradise Stable filly was not interested in being near the leaders, assuming a trip more like she did two races back when she won the Debutante.  She may have hung around back there a little too long.  At the top of the stretch, she was still about four lengths back.   She came on gamely in the stretch, but it was too little too late at that point.

6th- 6- Quest (18/1)- Pretty good out of the gate for D J C Racing Stables, taking a stalking position early.  Then about midway into the stretch, A S Arroyo urges him forward, and Quest would move up to take the lead as they approached the turn.  She set the opening half in :47.24.  Led for most of the turn, but those behind her were setting up their moves.  Quest did not have any response for those charges, and seemed to particularly struggle late.

7th- 5- Checks In The Mail (10/1)- Did not get off to a quick start at all for trainer Jackrussell Farms.   She remained at the back, running with Show The World and Morgan Le Fay for the vast majority of the race.  When Morgan Le Fay began to progress, Checks In The Mail was not able to go with her.

8th- 8- Show The World (104/1)- Started the race in the pack of the pack for Threshold, and this longshot never got a chance to make the few that bet on her get excited.  She seemed over her head coming into the race, and the result would show the world that here.  At least for now, anyway.

Track: Fast
Time: :23³  :47¹  1:11   1:35⁴

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 2 – 1 Paid 39.00
$1 Trifecta: 2 – 1 – 3 Paid 200.20

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES