by Mary Eddy
Godolphin’s Kentucky homebred She’s All Charm will look to notch her first stakes victory in Sunday’s $135,000 Tepin, a one-mile inner turf test for juvenile fillies, at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Trained by Eoin Harty, the daughter of More Than Ready was last seen adding blinkers for a strong 1 1/2-length allowance victory traveling the Tepin distance on October 11 at Keeneland. There, she was settled five lengths off the pace in the early stages by Frankie Dettori and tipped out five-wide heading into the stretch as she took a half-length advantage. She inched clear down the lane to post the victory in a final time of 1:36.39, garnering a field-best 73 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort.
“She’s coming into it in as good of shape as I can possibly have her,” Harty said. “She’s doing great and I certainly wouldn’t ship her if I didn’t think she was capable of running extremely well.”
She’s All Charm won by a head over next-out winner Miss Lonelle on debut sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs over firm Ellis Park turf in August, and followed with an even sixth in the 6 1/2-furlong Untapable on September 8 at Kentucky Downs where she raced greenly in the lane.
Harty said he had been considering the addition of blinkers since the filly’s debut.
“She was just a bit unfocused in her first two races, but it’s hard to put blinkers on her off a win in her maiden race,” Harty said. “She was quite green in her race at Kentucky Downs, but she seemed to put it all together in her race at Keeneland. I’m hoping for a similar result on Sunday.”
While She’s All Charm has won from both close to the pace and far off it, Harty said he does not believe she is restricted to any one running style.
“I think she can be very tactical,” Harty said. “Absolutely. She’s improved mentally and physically the whole time [since her debut] and we’re very happy with her.”
She’s All Charm is out of the stakes-winning Bernardini mare Too Charming, who captured the 1 1/16-mile Tropical Park Oaks over the Gulfstream Park turf in 2018. Too Charming is out of the multiple graded stakes-winning Slewvescent mare Tout Charmant, and is a half-sister to Grade 2-winner Dancing House.
Hall of Famer Joel Rosario has the call from post 5.
On the same October 11 Keeneland card as She’s All Charm, Four G Racing’s stakes-placed Kentucky homebred Reining Flowers also captured a one-mile turf allowance to notch her first score against winners for conditioner John Ortiz.
The daughter of Midnight Storm enjoyed a sharper break than in previous outings and sat 4 1/2 lengths off the pace before pouncing in the far turn under Hall of Famer John Velazquez. Despite a rival veering out and forcing her to steady in mid-stretch, she battled on gamely to earn the nose victory in a final time of 1:37.15.
“She ran very well and came out of the race in great shape,” Ortiz said. “She’s a really low maintenance filly and just does everything right. She’s been developing with each start and she deserves every opportunity. She’s a small filly with a big heart, and tremendous talent. She’s got a really long stride and a really good turn-of-foot. Johnny knows her well at this point, so we’re confident and comfortable to take a shot in New York. Why not?”
Reining Flowers graduated at third asking this summer at Saratoga Race Course, rallying from ninth-of-10 after an awkward break to show her signature turn-of-foot in the stretch and draw off to a one-length score. She followed with a courageous third in the 1 1/16-mile Listed P.G. Johnson where she also broke in a tangle and closed with giant strides to be beaten just three-quarter-lengths.
Ortiz said Reining Flowers has continued to improve in the gate.
“That was one of her things at Saratoga was she missed the break a couple times,” Ortiz said. “I think she just out-broke herself, but we worked on that and she’s been coming out of the gate in really good shape. That will be key to win here. If we’re a little more involved, I think we’ll have a good opportunity to show what real talent she has.”
Velazquez retains the mount from post 6.
Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor’s Isle of Capri [post 4, Frankie Dettori] stretches out for trainer Brendan Walsh off a dominant debut maiden victory sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs on September 11 at Kentucky Downs.
The Munnings gray was in command throughout with some pressure from Cheetah Lady in the early stages, but easily dismissed her rival by the half-mile call and drew off to a four-length score in a final time of 1:15.41, garnering a 72 Beyer.
Isle of Capri was a $250,000 weanling purchase at the 2022 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale and is out of the Verrazano mare Timely, a half-sister to stakes-winner Youreinthearmynow.
Newstead Stables’ Laurelin [post 9, Kendrick Carmouche] vies to double up on wins over the Aqueduct turf after a debut graduation traveling 1 1/16 miles on October 13 during the Belmont at the Big A fall meet.
Trained by Graham Motion, the Irish-bred daughter of Zarak endured a bumpy start and trailed eight lengths off the pace through the first quarter-mile, but improved steadily throughout to swing five-wide and draw off to the 1 1/2-length victory. She was awarded a 71 Beyer.
The chestnut was a $169,488 purchase from Book 1 of the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale, and is out of the winning Cape Cross mare Bari, who also produced Listed stakes-winner Maude Gonne Spirit.
Completing the competitive field are the stakes-placed She’s Our Tiz [post 3, Jose Lezcano] for trainer Michelle Giangiulio; maiden-winners Miriam’s Fire [post 1, Manny Franco] for conditioner Mike Maker, Roshiell My Belle [post 7, Javier Castellano] for trainer Jorge Abreu, Pookie [post 8, Dylan Davis] for trainer Tom Morley and Presha [post 10, Flavien Prat] for conditioner Will Walden; and the maiden Good Long Cry [post 2, Irad Ortiz, Jr.] for trainer George Weaver.
Annie Goodbody, Five G and Good Conduct are listed as also-eligible.
The Tepin is slated as Race 8 on Sunday’s nine-race card, which also features the $100,000 Key Cents in Race 6. First post is 12:10 p.m. Eastern.
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