BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Sent to the post as a popular 9-5 second choice, Florida-bred Stunner affirmed her supporters’ expectations with a convincing three-and-a-half-length victory in the $150,000 Tempted at Aqueduct Saturday. Ridden to victory by Dylan Davis, Stunner defeated eight other 2-year-old fillies in the one-mile contest during the Belmont at Big A meet.
Davis sent Stunner directly to the front from post one to take a two-length lead down the backstretch and finish the quarter mile in :22.92. Impulse Buy, the 8-5 favorite with Jose Lezcano aboard; and Adirondack (G3)-winner The Queens M G raced up to challenge for the lead around the far turn but could not maintain their momentum into the stretch as Stunner cruised away from her rivals with a few right-handed taps from Davis.
Stunner finished the distance in 1:36.90 on the fast track while Impulse was second. The Queens M G was another length-and-three-quarters back in third followed by Fortuna Mia, Five a Side, Beautiful Blome, Tip Line, Pure Majestic and Wild Mama.
Stunner paid $5.80 to win.
Stunner is by Girvin out of Spun Beauty, by Hard Spun and was bred in Florida by the late Brereton C. Jones. Trained by Brad Cox for LNJ Foxwoods and Churchill Street Stables, Stunner earned $82,500 to push her earning to $152,000 from three starts.
She broke her maiden as the 2-5 favorite in her second effort, winning a six-and-a-half-furlong maiden special weight for fillies at Aqueduct by more than six lengths on Sept. 26. The promising filly was 8-5 on debut but finished second to Senza Parole in a very fast maiden special weight for fillies at Saratoga on Aug. 23.
Stunner is the second foal out of Spun Beauty and her only winner. She has an unnamed yearling colt and a weanling colt, both by Ocala Stud’s currently leading Florida first crop sire Win Win Win. She was bred to Win Win Win again in 2024.
