Tempted (USA)
March 31, 1955 – c. 1976
Half Crown (GB) x Enchanted Eve (USA), by Lovely Night (USA)
Family 4-r
March 31, 1955 – c. 1976
Half Crown (GB) x Enchanted Eve (USA), by Lovely Night (USA)
Family 4-r
An attractive, talented mare from modest antecedents, Tempted first came to national notice at 3, when she won the Alabama Stakes and two other major races. She might have had a better record that year had she not also served as pacemaker for her stablemate Endine, a top-class handicap mare. At 4, Tempted came into her own. Asking no quarter and giving none, she won four important stakes races, set a new American time record, and was voted the champion American handicap female. She continued to show high-class form as a 5-year-old. While somewhat disappointing as a dam of winners, she proved a good dam of broodmares, and her female family continues to have good representatives.
Race record
45 starts, 18 wins, 4 seconds, 9 thirds, US$330,760
1957:
1958:
1959:
1960:
Honors
American champion handicap female (1959)
Assessments
Rated at 108 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1957, 12 pounds below champion filly Idun.
Rated at 119 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American fillies and mares of 1958, 5 pounds below champion handicap female Bornastar and 4 pounds below champion 3-year-old filly Idun.
Highweighted at 130 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American older females of 1959, 2 pounds above second-rated Bug Brush.
Rated at 123 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older females of 1960, 5 pounds below champion Royal Native.
As an individual
Described by Daily Racing Form writer Charles Hatton as "brilliant and brimful of courage," Tempted was a willing and generous racer and a fine weight carrier. Physically, she was well-balanced, athletic, short-backed, and clean-legged, with a lovely Arabian-like head.
As a producer
Tempted produced six named foals, of which four started and three won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled at Duval Headley's Manchester Farm in Kentucky, Tempted was bred by Harry Lunger's Christiana Stables. She was owned by Mooring Stable (the nom de course of Mrs. Philip F. duPont, née Elizabeth Horner). She was trained by Henry S. Clark. Tempted disappears from the produce records after producing the colt Tentare in 1976.
Pedigree notes
Sired by the stakes-placed Hyperion horse Half Crown, Tempted is inbred 3x5 to the great foundation mare Selene, a two-time champion filly in England, and 4x5 to 1913 English champion juvenile male The Tetrarch, the English champion sire of 1919. She is a half sister to the high-class handicapper Smart (by Thinking Cap). She is also a half sister to Witching Hour (by Thinking Cap), dam of 1970 Futurity Stakes winner Salem (by Cyane), 1982 Alabama Stakes (USA-G1) winner Broom Dance (by Dance Spell), multiple Grade 2 winner Pumpkin Moonshine (by Cyane), and 1978 Test Stakes (USA-G3) winner Tingle Stone (by Cyane); second dam of Grade 3 winners End Sweep and Rousing Past; and third dam of multiple Argentine Group 2 winner Carpan. In addition, Tempted is a half sister to Set a Cap (by Thinking Cap), dam of multiple stakes winner Pinch Pie (by Cyane); to Kyrenia (by Thinking Cap), dam of Grade 1-placed stakes winner Enchanted Native (by Native Charger) and second dam of 1987 San Antonio Handicap (USA-G1) winner Bedside Promise; and to Sigh Sign (by Cyane), dam of 1978 Italian champion 2-year-old male Ice Cool (by Icecapade) and stakes winner Biricchina (by Icecapade) and second dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Soho Sunday. Finally, Tempted is a half sister to Instant Sin (by Cyane), dam of 1978 Chrysanthemum Handicap (USA-G3) winner Misgivings (by Restless Native); second dam of 1984 Arlington-Washington Lassie (USA-G1) winner Contredance, multiple Grade 2 winner Skimble, and Grade/Group 3 winners At Risk and Shotiche; and third dam of Ecuadorian champion imported older horse Azulako, multiple Grade 1 winners Lazy Slusan and Skimming, 1996 Malibu Stakes (USA-G1) winner King of the Heap, 1999 One Thousand Guineas (ENG-G1) winner Wince, Grade/Group 2 winners Eltish and Fazel, and Grade 3 winner Forest Gazelle.
Enchanted Eve, the dam of Tempted and her siblings, ran second in the 1952 Alabama Stakes and third in the 1952 Ladies Handicap. A daughter of the good stakes winner Lovely Night (by Pilate)—a versatile horse who won stakes races on the flat and over hurdles—she is out of the winner Poupee (by Quatre Bras II), a half sister to multiple juvenile stakes winner Crownlet (by Half Crown). The next dam in Tempted’s tail-female line, Marcella Miss (by Pharamond II) won two of her 20 starts but distinguished herself mostly by surviving a fall down a well as a youngster. A half sister to multiple stakes winner The Choctaw (by Rouleau) and to Journey’s End (by Spanish Prince II), dam of multiple stakes winner Brown Hostess (by Brown King), Marcella Miss is out of Miss Marcella, a winning daughter of 1908 champion 2-year-old male Sir Martin.
Fun facts
Last updated: November 14, 2025
Race record
45 starts, 18 wins, 4 seconds, 9 thirds, US$330,760
1957:
- Won Jeanne d'Arc Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Narragansett Park)
1958:
- Won Alabama Stakes (USA, 10FD, Saratoga)
- Won Jersey Belle Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Garden State)
- Won Maskette Stakes (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Gazelle Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Delaware Oaks (USA, 9FD, Delaware Park)
- Also equaled the mile track record of 1:37-1/5 at Delaware Park
1959:
- Won Diana Handicap (USA, 9FD, Saratoga)
- Won New Castle Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Delawre Park)
- Won Beldame Handicap (USA, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Ladies Handicap (USA, 10.5FD, Aqueduct; new American record 2:09)
- 2nd Maskette Handicap (USA, 8FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Top Flight Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Delaware Handicap (USA, 10FD, Delaware Park)
1960:
- Won Maskette Handicap (USA, 8FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Diana Handicap (USA, 9FD, Saratoga)
- 3rd Narragansett Special Handicap (USA, 9.5FD, Narragansett Park)
- 3rd New Castle Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Delaware Park)
- 3rd Rumson Handicap (USA, 6FD, Monmouth)
Honors
American champion handicap female (1959)
Assessments
Rated at 108 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1957, 12 pounds below champion filly Idun.
Rated at 119 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American fillies and mares of 1958, 5 pounds below champion handicap female Bornastar and 4 pounds below champion 3-year-old filly Idun.
Highweighted at 130 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American older females of 1959, 2 pounds above second-rated Bug Brush.
Rated at 123 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older females of 1960, 5 pounds below champion Royal Native.
As an individual
Described by Daily Racing Form writer Charles Hatton as "brilliant and brimful of courage," Tempted was a willing and generous racer and a fine weight carrier. Physically, she was well-balanced, athletic, short-backed, and clean-legged, with a lovely Arabian-like head.
As a producer
Tempted produced six named foals, of which four started and three won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Turn to Me (1965, by Cyane) placed three times from nine starts. She is the dam of 1987 Countess Fager Handicap (USA-G3) winner Adorable Micol (by Riverman), multiple stakes winner Brokerette (by King’s Bishop), and restricted stakes winner Columbia Gold (by Key to the Mint). Her more distant descendants include 2024 Swedish co-champion 3-year-old male Lord Mountbatten, 2016 Scandinavian champion 2-year-old filly Lady of Course, 2009 Malibu Stakes (USA-G1) winner M One Rifle, and 2007 Del Mar Oaks (USA-G1) winner Rutherienne.
- Bee for Me (1966, by Cyane) never raced but is the dam of 1985 Premio Umbria (ITY-G2) winner Nacacyte (by Star de Naskra). She is also the second dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Channel Three and the third dam of Grade 3 winner Appealing Phylly. Her more distant descendants include 2004 Stephen Foster Handicap (USA-G1) winner Colonial Colony and Grade 3 winner Battle Hardened.
- Lead Me On (1967, by Native Dancer) won two minor stakes races. She is the dam of 1976 Comely Stakes (USA-G3) winner Tell Me All (by Cyane) and the third dam of Venezuelan Group 3 winner Flight Command. Her more distant descendants include four-time Jamaican champion Chadman.
- Near Me Now (1969, by Nearctic) never raced but is the dam of 1979 Tropical Park Derby (USA-G3) winner Bishop’s Choice (by King’s Bishop) and the second dam of 1992 Prix du Jockey Club Lancia (French Derby, FR-G1) winner Polytain. Her more distant descendants include 2021 Bahrainian Horse of the Year Medal Winner, two-time Puerto Rican champion Exclusivo, Japanese Group 2 winner Cantabile, and Grade/Group 3 winners Diamond Tycoon, Irisheyesareflying, and Kraslava.
Connections
Foaled at Duval Headley's Manchester Farm in Kentucky, Tempted was bred by Harry Lunger's Christiana Stables. She was owned by Mooring Stable (the nom de course of Mrs. Philip F. duPont, née Elizabeth Horner). She was trained by Henry S. Clark. Tempted disappears from the produce records after producing the colt Tentare in 1976.
Pedigree notes
Sired by the stakes-placed Hyperion horse Half Crown, Tempted is inbred 3x5 to the great foundation mare Selene, a two-time champion filly in England, and 4x5 to 1913 English champion juvenile male The Tetrarch, the English champion sire of 1919. She is a half sister to the high-class handicapper Smart (by Thinking Cap). She is also a half sister to Witching Hour (by Thinking Cap), dam of 1970 Futurity Stakes winner Salem (by Cyane), 1982 Alabama Stakes (USA-G1) winner Broom Dance (by Dance Spell), multiple Grade 2 winner Pumpkin Moonshine (by Cyane), and 1978 Test Stakes (USA-G3) winner Tingle Stone (by Cyane); second dam of Grade 3 winners End Sweep and Rousing Past; and third dam of multiple Argentine Group 2 winner Carpan. In addition, Tempted is a half sister to Set a Cap (by Thinking Cap), dam of multiple stakes winner Pinch Pie (by Cyane); to Kyrenia (by Thinking Cap), dam of Grade 1-placed stakes winner Enchanted Native (by Native Charger) and second dam of 1987 San Antonio Handicap (USA-G1) winner Bedside Promise; and to Sigh Sign (by Cyane), dam of 1978 Italian champion 2-year-old male Ice Cool (by Icecapade) and stakes winner Biricchina (by Icecapade) and second dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Soho Sunday. Finally, Tempted is a half sister to Instant Sin (by Cyane), dam of 1978 Chrysanthemum Handicap (USA-G3) winner Misgivings (by Restless Native); second dam of 1984 Arlington-Washington Lassie (USA-G1) winner Contredance, multiple Grade 2 winner Skimble, and Grade/Group 3 winners At Risk and Shotiche; and third dam of Ecuadorian champion imported older horse Azulako, multiple Grade 1 winners Lazy Slusan and Skimming, 1996 Malibu Stakes (USA-G1) winner King of the Heap, 1999 One Thousand Guineas (ENG-G1) winner Wince, Grade/Group 2 winners Eltish and Fazel, and Grade 3 winner Forest Gazelle.
Enchanted Eve, the dam of Tempted and her siblings, ran second in the 1952 Alabama Stakes and third in the 1952 Ladies Handicap. A daughter of the good stakes winner Lovely Night (by Pilate)—a versatile horse who won stakes races on the flat and over hurdles—she is out of the winner Poupee (by Quatre Bras II), a half sister to multiple juvenile stakes winner Crownlet (by Half Crown). The next dam in Tempted’s tail-female line, Marcella Miss (by Pharamond II) won two of her 20 starts but distinguished herself mostly by surviving a fall down a well as a youngster. A half sister to multiple stakes winner The Choctaw (by Rouleau) and to Journey’s End (by Spanish Prince II), dam of multiple stakes winner Brown Hostess (by Brown King), Marcella Miss is out of Miss Marcella, a winning daughter of 1908 champion 2-year-old male Sir Martin.
Fun facts
- When Tempted was a yearling, breeder Harry Lunger gave his mother-in-law, Elizabeth Horner DuPont, her choice of the Christiana youngsters. She chose Tempted and paid US$5,000 for her.
- During her racing career, Tempted became known to her fans as the “Red Queen.”
- In her record-setting performance in the 1959 Ladies Handicap, Tempted carried 128 pounds, the highest impost for any Ladies Handicap winner up to that time.
- Tempted had the habit of tail-switching during her races. For most fillies and mares, that behavior is considered a sign of uncertain temperament or unwillingness; for Tempted, it was a signal that she was about to accelerate.
Last updated: November 14, 2025