Big World wins second straight in Tempted Stakes

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The speed didn’t show, and neither did the favorite, thus Big World posted a mild, front-running upset in Wednesday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Tempted Stakes on opening day at Aqueduct.

Big World, under Jose Ortiz, and Banree, under Trevor McCarthy, sparred through modest fractions of 24.05 seconds, 47.85, and 1:12.48 for six furlongs. Naturally, both had something left for the stretch, with Big World having more and holding off a late run from longshot Flora Dora to win by a half-length.

It was three-quarters of a length farther back to Banree in third. Disco Rose, Welcoming – the 4-5 favorite – and Hi Holiday completed the order of finish.

The win was the second straight for Big World, a daughter of Custom for Carlos owned by Maggi Moss and trained by Tony Dutrow.

Neither Ortiz nor Dutrow expected Big World to be on the lead, but when no one else went for it, Ortiz had Big World in front, moving comfortably, with Banree to her outside.

Disco Rose appeared to be sitting in a good position right behind the speed, but Welcoming, coming off a huge maiden win at Belmont on Oct. 4, was struggling between horses. She was done by the three-eighths pole, according to jockey Joel Rosario.

“She lost the bridle a little bit,” Rosario said. “At the three-eighths pole, she wasn’t taking me; I had to help her, and then she stayed steady.”

Meanwhile, Ortiz still had horse on Big World, who spurted clear of Banree at the sixteenth pole and was home before Flora Dora came at her late.

“On paper, you see three horses have speed, but I break very well, and everybody was looking at me, so I took advantage and took the lead and won pretty easy,” Ortiz said.

Big World covered the mile in 1:37.19 and returned $10.40 as the third choice.

Dutrow said he would speak with Moss before deciding whether to stretch Big World out in the Demoiselle at 1 1/8 miles on Nov. 28.