Coglianese / NYRA Photo Photo

Antoinette rallies up the rail to capture $100K Tepin

by NYRA Press Office

Godolphin homebred Antoinette, trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, kicked off the four-day Cigar Mile Racing Festival in style by surging up the rail to secure her first stakes score in Thursday's rescheduled $100,000 Tepin at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The Tepin, originally slated for 1 1/16-miles on the outer turf for juvenile fillies, was taken off the green and contested as a one-turn mile on the Big A main track rated good.

"It's fun riding the best horse," said winning rider Joe Bravo. "This filly is really just growing into herself. After two races, you don't know if they'll handle the dirt or not, but she proved that she could today. She loved it."

Quality Heat broke sharply from the outside post under Kendrick Carmouche, but it was I Dare U who sprinted up the rail to lead a field of six through an opening quarter-mile in 23.95 seconds with Antoinette, patiently piloted by Bravo, taking up third position.

I Dare U, the even-money favorite under Manny Franco, continued to battle down the back stretch with Quality Heat, while Logic N Reason, who went to her knees out of the gate, made a rail move through a half-mile in 47.89.

The field bunched up through the turn with I Dare U clinging to a precarious lead as More Glitter launched a bid outside of Quality Heat with Bravo choosing the shorter route aboard Antoinette.

Antoinette, full of run, found a gap and galloped clear with her ears pricked for a 1 3/4-length score in 1:38.87. I Dare U stayed on gamely to complete the exacta, a half-length in front of Quality Heat.

Rounding out the order of finish were Stretchthestory, More Glitter and Logic N Reason. Enola Gay was scratched.

Mott's assistant trainer Leanna Willaford said she was proud of the brave rail run from the lightly-raced juvenile.

"She ran very well," said Willaford. "She handled a bit of adversity being down inside and had to wait until it opened up and come on through, but she ran great.

"She's very professional in the mornings and we're proud she ran to her ability here today," added Willaford. "She'll most likely head south [Payson Park] from here for the winter, but we'll talk to the connections and map out a game plan from there."

The Kentucky-bred daughter of Hard Spun graduated at second asking, by a head, when travelling 1 1/16-miles on the Belmont Park turf on October 24. She was making her dirt and stakes debut in the Tepin.

Antoinette banked $55,000 in victory while improving her record to two wins from starts. She returned $11 for a $2 win ticket.

Live racing resumes on Friday at the Big A with a 10-race card highlighted by the $100,000 Central Park in Race 9. First post is 11:50 a.m. Eastern.