Capla Temptress Proves Persistent in My Charmer Stakes
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Leslie Martin
Capla Temptress wins the My Charmer Stakes at Gulfstream Park
After struggling to regain the winning form that defined her juvenile campaign, Team Valor International's Capla Temptress scored her first stakes win of 2018 in the $100,000 My Charmer Stakes (G3T) Dec. 15 at Gulfstream Park.
This year has been an uphill climb for Capla Temptress.
Imported in 2017 to the United States from the U.K.—where she won back-to-back novice victories and placed third in the German-Thoroughbred.com Sweet Solera Stakes (G3)—the now 3-year-old daughter of Lope de Vega was quick to prove her worth on the North American turf. Transferred to the barn of Marco Botti, she burst onto the scene at Woodbine with an impressive win in the Natalma Stakes (G1T). That earned her an automatic berth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T), where she ran seventh, the worst finish of her career to that point.
But five starts into her 3-year-old campaign, the bay filly continued to frustrate her connections and new trainer, Hall of Famer Bill Mott, posting a fourth-place run in the Emirates Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (G1) before shipping back to New York, where she failed to fire in three graded tests.
Capla Temptress entered the My Charmer off a lackluster fifth in the Oct. 13 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes presented by Lane's End (G1T) at Keeneland.
With Joel Rosario in the irons, the filly was sent off at odds of 4-1. Racing two wide in the first turn, she rated off the pace in ninth through the backstretch, awaiting her cue from Rosario. Leading the way through the first turn, Cherry Lodge took the 14-horse field through six furlongs in 1:13.58 before favored La Moneda made her bid as they entered the stretch.
Moving out three wide at the quarter pole, Capla Temptress was set down for a drive and kicked home, drawing clear of La Moneda on the outside with only yards left to run. A game La Moneda fought to regain her lead, but the effort was not enough. Capla Temptress won by 1 1/2 lengths, completing the mile in a final time of 1:39.08.
"It was a good trip," Rosario said. "She broke well, and on the backside she was there for me. I was only waiting to have some clear run at the end. The track was a little soft, but it seemed in good shape, so I was very happy. She's a runner. She just likes to run."
La Moneda took second, one length ahead of Special Event in third, followed by Bellavais in fourth.
"I think Bill was pretty confident today going in," said Kenny McCarthy, assistant trainer to Mott. "A little worried initially when the rain hit, worried about what kind of ground she really likes, but at the same we felt like this turf course is in such great condition, we'd take a shot with her.
"She's run on soft turf before, and we probably haven't seen her best over it, but she always tries really hard. Super trip. I thought Joel gave her a beautiful ride. She's a small, little filly, so I think the big thing is, don't get in any fights with her and don't get too cute with her. Just keep it simple with her, and I think he did that with her today."
Bred in Ireland by Pier House Stud out of the Dansili mare Mrs Beeton, Capla Temptress was purchased for $29,263 by agent Jamie Lloyd from her breeder's consignment to the 2016 Goffs Orby Yearling Sale. She improved her record to 4-1-1 from 11 starts, with earnings of $343,876.