NYRA/Coglianese Photo

Cafe Society set for stakes debut in $100K Tempted

by Keith McCalmont

Allen Stable's Cafe Society, fresh off an impressive maiden score at Belmont, will make her stakes debut in Friday's $100,000 Tempted, a one-mile test for juvenile fillies on Opening Day of the fall meet at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The 18-day Big A fall meet, offering 29 stakes worth $3.41 million in purse money, including 11 graded events, runs November 6 through Sunday, December 6.

The Opening Day card, which coincides with the Breeders' Cup set for November 6-7 at Keeneland Race Course, also includes the $100,000 Atlantic Beach for juvenile turf sprinters.

Trained by Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey, Cafe Society drew off to a 3 ½-length score in a six-furlong maiden special weight on October 18 over Big Sandy. She earned a 73 Beyer Speed Figure for her winning effort.

Bred in Ontario by Anderson Farms, the Empire Maker bay out of the Tapit mare Full Tap, was purchased for $475,000 at the OBS Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds In Training.

Cafe Society worked a half-mile in 50.85 seconds Sunday on the Belmont main track.

"She's doing good," said McGaughey. "She worked here this morning and went a half in 50 and change by herself with the exercise rider."

McGaughey said the added distance should suit the tactical filly.

"I think a mile will suit her fine," said McGaughey. "If she breaks good, she'll be in good position. She's got some speed."

Eric Cancel picks up the mount from post 6.

Shadwell Stable's Malathaat, who provided Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez his 2,000th win at Belmont Park in her October 9 debut at Belmont, will have an extra furlong to work with in her stakes debut.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, the regally-bred daughter of Curlin out of the Grade 1-winning A.P. Indy mare Dreaming of Julia, brought $1,050,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Kendrick Carmouche takes over from post 4.

Four-time Eclipse-Award-winning trainer Chad Brown sends out a pair of first-out maiden winners in Peter Brant's American West and Wise Racing's Spa Ready.

American West, by Curlin, is out of 2014 Grade 3 Tempted-winner Jacaranda. A $925,000 purchase at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, American West garnered a 65 Beyer for her three-quarter length win in a one-mile maiden special weight on September 26 at Belmont.

Spa Ready, by Street Sense and out of the Bernardini mare Delay of Game, graduated by 3 ¼-lengths in a 6 ½-furlong maiden special weight on September 27 at Belmont.

Trevor McCarthy will pilot American West from post 2, while Spa Ready will exit post 5 under Nik Juarez.

Rounding out the field are Dauntless Gal [post 1, Cristian Torres] and Celestial Cheetah [post 3, Reylu Gutierrez].

The Tempted is slated as Race 8 on Friday's 10-race card which features a first post of 11:15 a.m. America's Day at the Races will present daily television coverage of the Aqueduct fall meet with coverage to air on FOX Sports and MSG Networks.