Shilling powers home in Listed Tempted
Fern Circle Stables’ Shilling took early command and didn’t look back with an authoritative victory in Thursday’s Listed $150,000 Tempted, a one-turn mile for juvenile fillies, at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Trained by Kenny McPeek, the Global Campaign bay entered from a pacesetting second-out graduation under Chris Elliott sprinting seven furlongs on October 16 here. With Elliott back aboard on Thursday, Shilling employed similar tactics to make a winning stakes debut in just her third career start.
“She broke so sharp for me last time and was so game on the lead – I think that’s kind of her thing,” said Elliott, who also piloted Shilling’s off-the-pace fourth in her September debut here. “She likes to be in the clear and she took me there.”
Shilling exited post 2 with a slight bobble as Secane jumped very sharply to lead down the chute until Shilling advanced up the inside to put her head in front and take command through the opening quarter-mile in 23.18 seconds over the fast dirt.
“Going into the race, I thought the four [Secane] and five [Believable] were pretty fast and I was planning on sitting behind them, but we played the break, she broke, and she took me there and it was perfect,” Elliott said.
The favored Secane tracked Shilling through the half-mile in 47.30 with Spa Prospector, Day to Day and the slow-starting Believable all within striking distance as the field entered the turn. Turning for home, Believable launched a four-wide bid outside of Secane who was still kept at bay by Shilling.
“I had a lot of horse,” Elliott said. “She’s a little funny – she was swishing her tail, and I never even hit her, she was just game. She’s feeling really good and continuing to get better.”
Shilling drew clear of Secane in an instant when straightened away through three quarters in 1:12.31, establishing a 4 1/2-length lead at the stretch call as Believable attempted to close under Kendrick Carmouche. Within the final furlong, Shilling powered home with authority, keeping Believable four lengths back in a final time of 1:38.45.
Secane held third with her Saffie Joseph, Jr.-trained stablemate Day to Day landing fourth. Spa Prospector completed the order of finish.
Jimmy Jerkens, assistant to McPeek and a multiple Grade 1-winning trainer in his own right, was pleased with Shilling’s trip.
“It didn’t look like they wanted it [the lead] that bad, so don’t take it away from her, especially when she had so much tenacity having the lead last time,” Jerkens said. “That second quarter – I was really happy to see a 24 second quarter, I thought she’d be real tough from there on.”
Jerkens, the son of the late Hall of Fame-trainer H. Allen Jerkens, said the stakes win as an assistant was rewarding.
“It’s satisfying knowing you’re there with them every day,” Jerkens said. “I did a lot of years for my father, so I’m used to being in the back a little bit. It’s satisfying. They trust you with them and it works out; it’s a good feeling.”
A logical next start for Shilling could be the nine-furlong Grade 2, $250,000 Demoiselle offering 10-5-3-2-1 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points on December 6 here.
Carmouche said the Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher-trained Believable was green in her second career start off a nose score over course and distance on September 28.
“I don’t think she was really prepared for the break. With that being said, I had her back in a good position, but she still ran green throughout the race,” Carmouche said. “It looked at the top of the lane like she would swoop past them, but she’s still green. She still has time to improve.”
Bred in Kentucky by Joe B. Mulholland Jr. and John P. Mulholland, Shilling, a $105,000 purchase at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, is out of the winning Exchange Rate mare Pounds to Pennies. She banked $82,500 in victory while improving her record to 3-2-0-0 and returning $16.58 for a $2 win bet.
The Tempted was originally scheduled for Friday, October 31, but was rescheduled to Thursday after live racing was canceled that day due to high winds. All five of the original entrants returned to contest the one-turn mile for juvenile fillies.
Live racing resumes Friday at Aqueduct Racetrack with a 10-race card featuring the Listed $150,000 Central Park [Race 7] and the $150,000 Stewart Manor [Race 9]. First post is 11:40 a.m. Eastern.
America’s Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of the Aqueduct Racetrack fall meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule/.
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