Francesca Le Donne Photo

Navajo set to make graded stakes debut in G3 Tempted

by NYRA Press Office

Stakes action at Aqueduct Racetrack kicks off for the fall meet when live racing returns to the Big A on Friday, November 3rd when six juvenile fillies compete in the Grade 3, $150,000 Tempted at one mile.

Set to make her third career start for Woodford Racing and trainer Tony Dutrow is Navajo. Purchased for $75,000 at the Keenland September Yearling Sale, the Union Rags filly debuted August 27 at Saratoga Race Course, where she closed well to finish second by three-quarters of a length. Returning to make her second start at Belmont on October 1, she bested a field of nine to win by 3 ¼ lengths while recording a field high 76 Beyer Speed Figure.

With Hall of Famer John Velazquez aboard, the pair will leave from post 6.

Shipping from Florida for trainer Rodolfo Garcia and Altamira Stable is Lady Freedom. A daughter of Super Saver, she has made five careers starts with two wins and one second place finish. After breaking her maiden in her third start, she entered the Grade 2 Pocahontas where she finished twelfth after hopping out the gate at the start. Rebounding to win an optional claiming race at Gulfstream Park West on October 11, she has made her last two works at Belmont Park most recently on October 16 breezing five furlongs in 1:03.25.

Drawing post 4, Old fashioned will be ridden by Luis Saez.

One Last Cast will enter for trainer Todd Pletcher, who also owns and bred the filly with his father Jake. A New York-bred ndaughter of Algorithms, she won her debut last April at Aqueduct before making her next four starts in stakes races most recently finishing second in the Lady Finger on September 9 at Finger Lakes.

With Chris DeCarlo aboard, the pair will depart from post 2.

Rounding out the field is Daisy for Fox Hill Farms and trainer Jason Servis who impressively won her debut on October 9 at Parx; and Sweet Candy Dance for Happy Tenth Stable and trainer Alfredo Velazquez who broke her maiden in her third career start on October 10 at Parx.

Friday at the Big A will also feature a full simulcast of the Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar, anchored by the $2 million Longines Distaff, with a local post time of 7:35 p.m.

On Saturday, Arles will look to get back in action in a field of six fillies and mares in the Grade 3, $200,000 Long Island Handicap at 1 ½ miles on the inner turf.

Returning from a nine-month layoff, the Graham Motion trainee notched a trio of runner-up finishes in her only three U.S. starts, most recently finishing second by a length to multiple graded stakes winner Suffused in the Grade 3 La Prevoyante in January at Gulfstream Park.

A 5-year-old French mare by Monsun, Arles will be ridden by Nik Juarez from post 2.

Also on tap for the Long Island are Playful Sound, making her North American debut for the Christophe Clement barn; Summersault, second in the Grade 3 Waya this summer at Saratoga for trainer Mark Hennig; Achnaha, eighth in last year's Long Island for trainer George Weaver; and a pair of Chad Brown trainees in Galileo's Song, a close second in the Grade 3 Boiling Spring this summer, and Texting, making her first start against stakes company.

The $100,000 Chelsey Flower at a mile on the Widener turf has been rescheduled from Belmont's closing day card and will join the roster on Saturday,

Impressive first-out maiden winners Night Time Lady and Mrs. Ramona G. will make their stakes debuts for the respective barns of Chad Brown and Jeremiah Englehart. Also on tap for the Chelsey Flower are English Soul, Radiant Beauty, Wise Gal, Raucous, Golden Orb, and Go Noni Go. Bramble Queen, Oh Zap, Drama Run, Brattata, and Oldfashioned Style (main track only) are also eligible.

Aqueduct will host full simulcast coverage of the Breeders' Cup on Saturday, highlighted by the $6 million Classic, with a locally scheduled post of 8:35 p.m. ET. Aqueduct's first post is 12:15 p.m.