Tempting Date takes Czaria on closing day

Breaking through after a couple of tough defeats, Tempting Date gained a measure of revenge as she gamely prevailed in Sunland's $50,000 Czaria Handicap on Sunday, the highlight of the 2006-07 meet's closing-day card.

Owned by Paul and Adam Lewis and trained by Chris Hartman, Tempting Date prompted the pace in the six-furlong filly-and-mare sprint, moved up to challenge pacesetter White She Devil on the far turn, and finally got the better of that rival by a neck after a prolonged duel. Tempting Date covered the six furlongs in 1:09.63 under Ken Tohill and paid $6.60 as the slight favorite. The 5-year-old mare has now earned $283,418 from 6 wins in 12 starts.

White She Devil was gallant in defeat as she took pressure from the start and just failed to last. Skirt Alert rallied to be third.