Repole Stable's Stopchargingmaria, the 4-5 choice in a field of five, took the early lead and never looked back en route to a blowout victory in the $245,000 Tempted Stakes (gr. III) (VIDEO) for 2-year-old fillies at Aqueduct Racetrack Nov. 3.
Stopchargingmaria in her previous start finished third in the grade I Frizette Stakes at Belmont Park, finishing ahead of Ria Antonia, who on Nov. 2 was placed first in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) at Santa Anita Park via disqualification. Stopchargingmaria, who also finished second in the Spinaway Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course, won the Tempted by 10 3/4 lengths under Javier Castellano.
"We haven't gotten a nice one like that for a while here, but I guess I'm back at my home track, Aqueduct, and it seems I do better here than most other places," Mike Repole said. "I'll talk to (trainer Todd Pletcher) about bringing her back for the (grade II Demoiselle Stakes). She really did it so easy today. She was much the best."
The winner set fractional times of :23.64 for the opening quarter-mile, :47.74 for a half-mile, and 1:13.13 for six furlongs before completing the one mile in 1:38.77 on a fast track. The mile distance is run around one turn on the Aqueduct main track.
Divided Attention was second, a length ahead of Derek's Girl in third. Stonetastic and Potosi's Silver completed the order of finish.
Stopchargingmaria, who paid $3.70 to win, is by Tale of the Cat out of the Montbrook mare Exotic Bloom. She was bred in Kentucky by Harvey Clarke and Brookdale Farm.
