Shimming Allure finished a credible fourth in a very competitive renewal of Keeneland's GI Alcibiades S. last month, and found the step back to easier company to her liking, taking the Tempted S. at Aqueduct Sunday.
Not particularly hurried out of gate 1, the filly found herself near the back as longshot Belle's Blue Bell (Girvin) cut out respectable opening splits in :23.03 and :46.48. Flanked by Perfectly Wicked from the back, Shimmering Allure picked up the tempo markedly exiting the backstretch and swung out several paths wide turning for home. Still four lengths back straightening for home, she powered down the center of the lane, collared the late-leading Vino Rouge midstretch and drew off to score by three lengths. Perfectly Wicked was a clear third.
“She was a filly we knew would come from behind,” said winning jockey Junior Alvarado. “She broke very well and they outran her the first part, but I knew there was going to be a lot of speed since there was a lot of fillies coming from sprints so that helped her to get a fast pace up front.”
He continued, “I bought my time and let her get her feet underneath. When we hit the three-eighths pole, I started tapping the shoulder and she turned it on. I knew I had enough horse to get there at the end, so I tipped out at that point and she finished up very well.”
A non-factoring seventh in her debut against sales-restricted company at Ellis in June, she finished second in her next two, including a six-panel Saratoga test Aug. 13. She broke through with the win trying a mile for the first time Sept. 20, the Kentucky-bred got off a beat slow while trying open company for the first time at Keeneland Oct. 6, but finished a good fourth behind Candied-who subsequently finished third in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies last Saturday–in the 1 1/16-mile test.
According to Nick Galati, assistant to Kenny McPeek, “She ran good so last time and Ken told me right away that he wanted to run in the Tempted. I think this was the plan and she just turned a corner. She liked going two turns and last time it was a really tough race but she hung in there for a good fourth. Today, she was ready. I'm sure we'll find a good spot. She's really a nice filly, for sure. We always thought she was a nice filly, even the first time she ran in Saratoga, she ran real well. She sprinted a couple of times and it set her up nicely. I think she just keeps getting better. She seems to like any track she runs on also, so she's honest.”
Bred by Clifton Farm, the $40,000 Fasig-Tipton July yearling purchase is out of stakes-placed Shimmering Tale. The 19-year-old mare is also responsible for stakes-placed Shimmering Dream (Alternation) and My Daughter's Song (Songandaprayer). She produced a full-brother to the winner last term and was bred back to Frosted this term.
The winner represents the first stakes winner for freshman sire Enticed (Medaglia d'Oro), who is out of MGISW It's Tricky (Mineshaft). The Darley stallion, who currently has 17 winners from his first crop, stands for $5,000.
TEMPTED S., $150,000, Aqueduct, 11-5, 2yo, f, 1m, 1:37.84, ft.
1–SHIMMERING ALLURE, 120, f, 2, by Enticed
1st Dam: Shimmering Tale (SP), by Wild Again
2nd Dam: Lady Sky Racer, by Skywalker
3rd Dam: Boomer Lady, by Time to Explode
($40,000 Ylg '22 FTKJUL). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Walking L
Thoroughbreds, LLC; B-Clifton Farm, LLC (KY); T-Kenneth G.
McPeek; J-Junior Alvarado. $82,500. Lifetime Record: 6-2-2-0,
$189,095. *1/2 to Shimmering Dream (Alternation), SP,
$241,377.
2–Vino Rouge, 120, f, 2, Vino Rosso–Seeking the Blue, by Arch.
($180,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Harold Lerner
LLC and Team D; B-Payson Stud, Inc (KY); T-Anthony W.
Dutrow. $30,000.
3–Perfectly Wicked, 120, f, 2, Wicked Strong–Perfect Sister, by
Perfect Soul (Ire). ($16,000 Ylg '22 EASOCT). 1ST BLACK TYPE.
O-Respect the Valleys, LLC; B-BHMFR, LLC (KY); T-Brittany T.
Russell. $18,000.
Margins: 3, 3 3/4, 1. Odds: 2.05, 4.60, 13.40.
Also Ran: Caitlinhergrtness, Don't Tell Kelly, Belle's Blue Bell, Enfuega, A Primera Vista. Scratched: Caress, Vicountess.
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