Jacaranda Rules Rivals in Tempted Stakes
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Jacaranda made all the pace and comfortably won the $250,000 Tempted Stakes (gr. III) for 2-year-old fillies Nov. 2 at Aqueduct Racetrack.
The daughter of Congrats had an easier time of things in the one-mile Tempted than she did in her Sept. 21 debut, in which she overcame trouble to take a 6 1/2-furlong maiden race by five lengths. She broke on top with Jose Ortiz Sunday, and was never headed on route to a 3 1/2-length triumph to keep her record perfect in two career starts.
Jacaranda's time for the distance was 1:40.24 on a track labeled good.
"I loved the way the race set up, the way she managed to stay up in there, and that he didn't have to send her hard in the first part," said Mike Hushion, who trains the filly for owner Barry Schwartz. "I guess it (bodes well for her going farther). You look at the time and scratch your head, but we know there were some very, very talented fillies behind her."
Among the fillies behind Jacaranda were Matron (gr. II) winner Paulassilverlining, who finished second, and the 1-2 favorite Enchantress, who was fifth. Those two were split by Save Rock and Roll and Sunday Sonnet, while Miss Always Ready and Harlan's Honor completed the order of finish.
Jacaranda, bred in Kentucky by Vinery, paid $11.40, $5.20, and $4.40 as the 4-1 third choice in the betting. Paulassilverlining returned $4 and $3.60 while Save Rock and Roll brought $11.20.
Schwartz paid $250,000 to acquire Jacaranda from Vinery Sales and Millennium Farms, agent, at the 2013 Keeneland September yearling sale. Her dam is the grade III-placed Distorted Humor mare Baffled, who produced Tapit half brother Constitution, winner of the 2014 Florida Derby (gr. I).