Capla Temptress rallies to win Natalma Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The diminutive Capla Temptress used her impressive turn of foot to capture Sunday’s Grade 1, $265,900 Natalma Stakes, a Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In contest at Woodbine.

Capla Temptress ($13.40) bided her time at the rear of the nine-horse field as 13-1 shot Dixie Moon set honest fractions in the one-mile turf route for 2-year-old fillies. Capla Temptress began to make up ground early in the stretch and split rivals inside the eighth pole en route to a three-quarter-length tally. The winning time over firm turf was 1:35.12.

Dixie Moon edged out the favored Wonder Gadot for second, while second choice March X Press wound up fourth. Pretty Lady, Golden Orb, Mo Big Cat, Delamar, and Dooder completed the order of finish.

Joel Rosario rode Capla Temptress for trainer Marco Botti, who won the 2012 Canadian International with Joshua Tree.

“She broke very nice,” Rosario said. “I just tried to follow somebody and tried to let her be behind somebody all the time. I had to tap her a little bit on the backside to get her attention, but after that, she did the job.”

Barry Irwin of Team Valor International said Capla Temptress was recently purchased in England with the Natalma and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar as her objectives.

“I bought her with this plan in mind,” Irwin said. “She’s a fighter. She’s small. She’s got a long stride, and she’s all heart.”

Capla Temptress, an Irish-bred daughter of Lope de Vega, earned $150,000 for her first stakes score.