La Reina repels Eye Dazzler

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - La Reina, in a very game performance, won Tuesday's $110,700 Tempted Stakes on the Election Day card at Aqueduct before a crowd of 3,343.

La Reina repelled a challenge from the runner-up, Eye Dazzler, at the quarter pole and won by three lengths. It was another 5 1/2 lengths back to Sisti's Pride in third in the mile dirt race for 2-year-old fillies.

La Reina, the favorite ridden by John Velazquez, contested the pace and had a short lead around the far turn. Eye Dazzler launched a big run on the outside to gain a narrow lead at the top of the stretch, but La Reina fought back on the rail and drew away in the final furlong.

La Reina ($4.10) covered the distance in 1:36.15 over a fast track.

It was Velazquez's third consecutive Tempted victory and his fourth overall.

"Eye Dazzler got next to her, she took a look at her, I squeezed her and she just exploded," Velazquez said.

La Reina is trained by Shug McGaughey, who won two previous runnings of the Tempted. A daughter of A.P. Indy, La Reina is owned by Emory A. Hamilton. The Grade 3 Tempted was La Reina's third career start. She won a maiden race by five lengths at Belmont Park in September.

McGaughey said he would point La Reina to the Grade 2 Demoiselle on Nov. 29 at Aqueduct.

"I thought that was a very nice effort," McGaughey said. "She had only run two times and had not run since September. I think she kind of got relaxed there, then Eye Dazzler ran by her, which was what she needed to finish up good."

* Velazquez also was aboard Proud Beauty, who won the $61,100 Trampoli Stakes, a mile race turf for 3-year-old fillies on the undercard. Proud Beauty, who drew into the race off the also-eligible list, was a half-length winner over Snowdrops. It was another 1 1/4 lengths back to Quickly Now in third.

Trained by Todd Pletcher and owned by LaCombe Stables, Proud Beauty ($28) covered the distance in 1:39.53 over a course labeled good.