Aqueduct: Stonetastic to continue her development in Tempted

Though she finished second as the favorite in the Grade 2 Pocahontas Stakes at Churchill Downs six weeks ago, it would have been no surprise had Stonetastic ended up in the field for Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita.

But with her connections more focused on her 3-year-old season, Stonetastic will instead run as part of a six-horse field in Sunday’s Grade 3, $250,000 Tempted Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Aqueduct. The Tempted, run as a one-turn mile over the main track, shares billing on a nine-race card with the Grade 2, $250,000 Nashua Stakes for 2-year-old males, also at a mile.

Stonetastic won her debut, going 5 1/2 furlongs, at Monmouth by 12 1/2 lengths on Aug. 10 before attempting to stretch out to 1 1/16 miles in the Pocahontas. Stonetastic had the lead in midstretch but was run down by Untapable, who was entered in Saturday’s Juvenile Fillies. Stonetastic’s connections, including Kelly Breen, who trains for Jim Stone’s Stoneway Farm, opted to skip the Breeders’ Cup.

“We thought the best races for her might be on the East Coast,” said Breen, who was in Southern California to run Pants On Fire in the Dirt Mile. “She’s a petite filly and the owner thought maybe we don’t have to run the best race of her life as a 2-year-old.”

Since the Pocahontas, Stonetastic has fired two bullet works at Monmouth Park. Joe Bravo will ride Stonetastic from post 2.

Stopchargingmaria won her debut by 5 1/2 lengths at Saratoga in July before finishing second to Sweet Reason in the Grade 1 Spinaway at Saratoga. Stopchargingmaria then finished third, beaten four lengths, in the Grade 1 Frizette, with no apparent excuse.

“I thought she ran well, we simply couldn’t find a reason why she didn’t run better,” said Todd Pletcher, who trains Stopchargingmaria for Mike Repole. “We thought she had a beautiful trip and was a no-excuse third. It wasn’t a strong enough performance to merit coming to California, so we kind of circled the Tempted as a goal.”

Pletcher will also run Petosi’s Silver, who won her second start by 6 1/4 lengths after running second to Gracer, also in this field, in her debut at Saratoga.

“Her second race was good, she showed the ability to sit off it a little bit,” Pletcher said. “She’s got a pretty good cruising speed. I think a mile should suit her well. She needs to continue to improve.”

Gracer, trained by Tony Dutrow, finished third in the Grade 2 Matron her most recent start.

Divided Attention won a one-mile maiden race at Belmont in September before running fourth in the Frizette. Derek’s Girl, an 8 3/4-length winner of a maiden-claiming race at Del Mar, was purchased privately by Farnsworth Stables from Dean Greenman, who had claimed her for $30,000 out of her debut race.