The juvenile fillies got their turn in the spotlight at Aqueduct on Saturday
in the $106,500
Tempted
S. (G3). Starlight Partners’ AILALEA (Pulpit) held off the late charge of
Mambo Fever (Stormin Fever) to win by 1 1/4 lengths under Eibar Coa.
“I had a pretty good trip,” Coa said. “The one thing they told me was that
she didn’t like to be inside; but breaking from the inside, there wasn’t much
choice. She handled it pretty well. When I finally got her out at the
three-eighths pole, she became more comfortable and went after the leaders.”
The 8-5 favorite in the field of six, the Todd Pletcher trainee posted
one-mile in 1:36 3/5 on the fast main track to return $5.40, $3.30 and $2.40.
“She’s a real quality filly and we’ve been very happy with the way she’s
training,” said Jonathan Thomas, assistant to Pletcher. “We anticipated a run
like that and we were certainly hoping for one. She’s showing more
professionalism in the way she’s handling race scenarios.”
Ailalea broke her maiden by four lengths going the same distance on the good
dirt at Belmont Park prior to this one, and now owns a 4-2-0-1, $98,300, record.