Pair of stakes on Aqueduct opening-day card

Aqueduct will open its fall meet Friday with a pair of stakes for 2-year-olds that feature impressive debut winners Cafe Society and Malathaat in the $100,000 Tempted and smashing maiden winner Whatmakessammyrun in the $100,000 Atlantic Beach.

The Tempted is a one-turn mile for fillies that drew a field of six. The Atlantic Beach will be run at six furlongs on the grass and it drew nine colts and geldings.

Cafe Society darted to a 3 1/2-length maiden special weight win over six furlongs Oct. 18 at Belmont Park. The performance landed her in the Tempted, said trainer Shug McGaughey.

“There was a short-priced horse making her second start” – the 3-5 favorite Exact – “and she stalked her and ran by her pretty easy,” McGaughey said. “She came out of the race very well and we thought we’d take a shot. She’s training good.”

Cafe Society won her debut in a sharp 1:10.84 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 73. It’s the second-best number in the Tempted behind the 77 put up by Malathaat for winning her debut over seven furlongs last month at Belmont.

Cafe Society is bred to appreciate the added distance she picks up Friday as a daughter of Empire Maker and the Tapit mare Full Tap. She was a $475,000 purchase as a 2-year-old in training at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company auction in April. Cafe Society races for Allen Stable.

“She’s a nice-looking filly,” McGaughey said. “She’s got a very good demeanor about her. She’s pretty much push-button, done everything we’ve asked her to do.”

For the Tempted, Cafe Society will break from post 6 under Eric Cancel.

“She’s got speed and got a good post for that,” McGaughey said. “We’ll see what they do on the inside of her. If you need [speed], it’s there. If you don’t, she’ll settle in fine.”

Malathaat also has speed, and the Todd Pletcher trainee called on it for a 1 3/4-length win in her debut Oct. 9 at Belmont. She was a $1 million yearling purchase last year at Keeneland September and races for Shadwell Stable. Kendrick Carmouche has the mount from post 4 on the daughter of Curlin and the Grade 1-winning mare Dreaming of Julia.

American West will get support off her debut win at this mile distance Sept. 26. at Belmont. She’s been flattered since the victory, with the runner-up and sixth-place finisher from the race both returning to win maiden races in their next starts. American West’s dam, Jacaranda, won the Tempted in 2014. Trevor McCarthy has the mount from post 2 for Peter Brant and trainer Chad Brown.

The probable Atlantic Beach favorite is Whatmakessammyrun, who earned a field-high Beyer Speed Figure of 87 for his 8 3/4-length win in a maiden special weight at seven furlongs on turf Oct. 8 at Belmont. He defeated 11 others and a repeat of that performance might make him tough to contain. McCarthy has the mount for Sterling Racing and trainer George Weaver.

The field also includes Lookin for Loki, who is a half-brother to Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Trinniberg.