Maedean Rolls in Stakes Debut in Tempted Stakes
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Photo: Coglianese Photos
Maedean wins the Tempted Stakes at Aqueduct
Courtlandt Farm's Maedean stayed off the early speed and overtook her rivals for a 5 1/2-length victory in the $150,000 Tempted Stakes for juvenile fillies Nov. 1 at Aqueduct, opening day there. The win was her second straight after taking a maiden race Oct. 5 at Belmont Park for trainer Mark Hennig.
The first stakes of the Aqueduct fall meet saw Sweet Kisses and Cee's Overture duel for the lead, with the former gaining a slight advantage over the six-horse field, posting an opening quarter-mile in :23.17 and a half-mile in :46.66 on the fast main track.
Jockey Luis Saez, aboard Maedean for the first time, stayed patient on the Tapit filly and tipped her out straightening for home, picking off Power Move, Sweet Kisses and Cee's Overture one-by-one before gaining separation on the field, covering a mile in 1:36.75 in her stakes debut.
"It was a beautiful trip. She did it on her own," Saez said. "I was working this filly when I was in Saratoga and I knew she was special."
The grey filly, purchased for $450,000 at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, returned $6.50 on a $2 win wager. She could now target the 1 1/8-mile, $250,000 Demoiselle (G2) Dec. 7 at Aqueduct, which offers 10-4-2-1 qualifying points towards the 2020 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) to the top-four finishers.
"She had to swing out wide a little bit and she had to do that last time as well," Hennig said. "This filly has got a lot of talent and I just wanted everything to be kept out of her way. I was confident that she would finish with good energy.
"I almost passed this race to wait on the Demoiselle because I know she's going to love the distance. She's going to get better going further. If you watch her train in the morning, she just never gets tired. It's encouraging going forward."
Power Move, the 9-5 favorite who won her Oct. 6 debut for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey at Belmont, finished 3 1/4-lengths clear for second.
Vast crossed the wire third but was disqualified to fourth for interfering with Ankle Monitor, who was elevated to third. Sweet Kisses and Cee's Overture completed the order of finish.