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Stunner much-the-best in Listed $150K Tempted

by Christian Abdo

LNJ Foxwoods and Church Street Stable’s Stunner set the pace en route to a much-the-best first stakes score in Saturday’s Listed $150,000 Tempted, a one-turn mile for juvenile fillies, at Belmont at the Big A.

Dual Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox, who also captured the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies with Immersive on Friday at Del Mar, sent out the promising daughter of Girvin to a successful first stakes attempt after a 6 1/4-length graduation sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs on September 26 here.

Jaime Roth, of winning co-owner LNJ Foxwoods, said that the horse did the talking today.

“We’re lucky to have horses like her that make us look good,” said Roth. “I’m really pleased for our partners Church Street Stable, who are new in the game and I'm so happy for them to have this success with this horse. They’re great people and it’s cool to be a part of it with them.”

Piloted by Dylan Davis, Stunner broke sharply from the inside post and went to the lead, with Pure Majestic in behind and the favored Impulse Buy, who stumbled slightly at the start, outside of her through an opening quarter-mile in 22.92 seconds on the fast main track.

Down the backside and into the far turn, Stunner held a one-length advantage with the Jose Lezcano-piloted Impulse Buy keeping tabs on her and Grade 3-winner The Queens M G improving from midpack to a close fourth position as the half-mile elapsed in 45.87.

“She broke well in her last start and again today she broke well. I wanted to come out with intent and get her stride well into hand. Right away, I established the lead, and she got very comfortable,” said Davis. “The fractions were quick, but she was doing it within herself and she was very happy.”

Around the far turn, Stunner, Impulse Buy and The Queens M G separated themselves from the rest of the nine-horse field, and it quickly became a three-horse race. After three-quarters in 1:10.76, Stunner was met by her challengers and she shrugged them off with ease when let out a notch by Davis.

With a four-length advantage at the stretch call, the only question was what Stunner’s final time would be. Kept to task by Davis, Stunner stopped the clock in 1:36.90 with 3 1/2 lengths back to Impulse Buy.

It was another 1 3/4 lengths to The Queens M G in third, who finished 2 1/2-lengths ahead of stakes-placed Fortuna Mia. Five a Side, Beautiful Blome, Tip Line, Pure Majestic and Wild Mama completed the order of finish.

Davis said that Stunner, who was second to the well-regarded Senza Parole sprinting six furlongs on debut in August at Saratoga Race Course, showed that she is an intriguing candidate for further stretch outs in distance.

“I don’t think there’s any issue [going further]. She galloped out well and the two-turns should be OK,” said Davis, who earned his third win on the day and has clinched the Belmont at the Big A fall meet riding title with 44 wins heading into Sunday's Closing Day program.

Lezcano said the Rodolphe Brisset-trained Impulse Buy was game to get second after her bobbling break.

“She stumbled a little bit out of the gate, but she gave me a good race. The winner kept running and there’s nothing I can take away from her. My filly gave me a good race and she can improve more out of this race and be all right,” said Lezcano.

Bred in Florida by Brereton C. Jones, Stunner, out of the Hard Spun mare Spun Beauty, was a $190,000 2023 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale purchase. She banked $82,500 in victory while improving her record to 3-2-1-0 and returning $5.80 for a $2 win bet.

Live racing resumes Sunday with a nine-race card for Closing Day of the Belmont at the Big A fall meet featuring three separate $150,000 stakes contested on the main track, highlighted by the nine-furlong Listed Turnback the Alarm in Race 2; the Listed Pumpkin Pie in Race 6; and the Discovery in Race 8. First post is 12:10 p.m. Eastern.

America’s Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of the Belmont at the Big A fall meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule/.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Belmont at the Big A, and the best way to bet every race of the fall meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.