Last year's champion turf mare Tepin (Bernstein) devastated her competition for the fifth-straight time Saturday, taking Keeneland's GI Coolmore Jenny Wiley S. as she pleased by five lengths in a stakes record time of 1:40.53 for 8 1/2 grass furlongs. “She's amazing,” beamed pilot Julien Leparoux, who rode four winners on the day–including three for trainer Mark Casse, and who also guided Casse trainee Noble Bird (Birdstone) to a runner-up finish in the GIII Ben Ali S. “She can do whatever we want. I didn't think there was going to be that much pace today, so I was planning on sitting second. But when I saw [other horses] going [to the lead], I just sat back there. On the backside, she started to get going. She's amazing. Every time you ask her to do something, she does even better. It's great.”
Tepin emerged as a major force in her division last year with a front-running tally in the GII Churchill Downs Distaff Turf Mile on Kentucky Derby day, and beat a solid field in the GI Just a Game S. on Belmont S. day to proved that effort was no fluke. The Casse barn endured a frustrating Saratoga stand–which included a nose loss with Tepin in the GI Diana S. in July and a head defeat at the hooves of Wiley runner Dacita (Chi) (Scat Daddy) in the GII Ballston Spa S. in August–but things turned around back down in Kentucky. The bay cruised home a seven-length victoress over soft local going in the Oct. 3 GI First Lady S., and silenced any remaining doubters when easily handling a formidable international cast in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile four weeks later. An obvious choice for Eclipse honors, the champ returned with an easy score in Tampa's GIII Endeavour S. Feb. 13 before reeling in a runaway pacesetter to grab the GII Hillsborough S. back in Oldsmar Mar. 12.
Showing her usually early zip, Tepin was content to tuck in just behind dueling leaders while kept out in the clear by Leparoux. She moved up a spot while still confidently handled approaching the straight, glided to the front in upper stretch and was simply ridden out from there in another laugher. French GSW and Group 1-placed Wekeela did well to close for second.
Casse was asked after the race if there was any added pressure in saddling a horse like Tepin.
“A touch. But I have to say something. [Owner] Mr. [Robert] Masterson–if it wasn't for him–everybody wouldn't get to see the great Tepin. He wanted to let her run another year. It puts a little pressure on us. I love it. But I just don't want to let her down. It's hard.”
Tepin is expected to take her show on the road next time and compete in Royal Ascot's G1 Queen Anne S. in June. Her dam, a half-sister to GSW and useful sire Disco Rico, went to Adena Springs for a sale-topping $750,000 while carrying a Harlan's Holiday colt at the 2014 Keeneland January sale.
Hall of Fame rider Gary Steven was very pleased with the effort from Wekeela, and expects big things from her going forward.
“Tepin was awesome; my filly was awesome in her first performance in America,” the veteran said. “[She] completely missed the break. She was just in there enjoying all the scenery and kinda clued me in that she wasn't going to break well, like most French horses. So my plan got thrown out the door. I was gonna sit right behind Julien and see if I could outkick her. Let's face it: I wasn't going to beat her whether I got away good today or not, but I could have given [my filly] a much easier race. [Wekeela] is a quality filly and she'll win her share of Grade Is.”
Saturday, Keeneland
COOLMORE JENNY WILEY S.-GI, $350,000, KEE, 4-16, 4yo/up, f/m, 1 1/16mT, 1:40.53, fm.
1–TEPIN, 123, m, 5, by Bernstein
1st Dam: Life Happened, by Stravinsky
2nd Dam: Round It Off, by Apalachee
3rd Dam: Capp It Off, by Double Zeus
($140,000 Ylg '12 FTSAUG). O-Robert E. Masterson; B-Machmer Hall (KY); T-Mark E. Casse; J-Julien R. Leparoux. $210,000. Lifetime Record: Ch. Grass Mare, 18-10-3-1, $2,895,973. *Full to Prime Cut, MGSP, $167,426; 1/2 to Vyjack (Into Mischief), MGSW & MGISP, $1,101,700. Werk Nick Rating: C. Click for eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.[bullet ad=”machmer-hall-bredfoaledraised”][bullet ad=”selectsales-shell”][bullet ad=”greathouse-bloodstock-yearling-purchase”][bullet ad=”kbif-g1″]2–Wekeela (Fr), 118, f, 4, Hurricane Run (Ire)–Moonrise (Ger), by Grand Lodge. (€90,000 Ylg '13 ARAUG; €1,100,000 3yo '15 ARARC). O-Martin S. Schwartz; B-Dieter Burkle (FR); T-Chad C. Brown. $70,000.
3–Illuminant, 118, f, 4, Quality Road–Sparkling Number, by Polish Numbers. ($32,000 Ylg '13 KEESEP; $180,000 2yo '14 OBSMAR). O-Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners; B-Sycamore Hall Farm LLC (PA); T-Michael W. McCarthy. $35,000.[bullet ad=”eaton-sold”]Margins: 5, 1HF, 3/4. Odds: 0.40, 9.60, 37.50.
Also Ran: Dacita (Chi), Recepta, Tiger Ride, She's Not Here, Itsonlyactingdad, Akatea (Ire). Scratched: Miss Temple City.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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