Tepin Wins Distaff Turf Mile on Front End
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Robert Masterson's Tepin led the field gate to wire for an easy victory in the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Handicap (gr. IIT) presented by Longines at Churchill Downs May 2 .
Ridden by Julien Leparoux, the 4-year-old daughter of Bernstein was out of the gate well and took the field through opening fractions of :24.10 and :48.18 down the backside, running comfortably on the lead, with longshot Maid On a Mission and Coffee Clique following. Those three continued their positions rounding the second turn after six furlongs was timed in 1:11.65.
As Tepin continued to lead in the stretch, Coffee Clique, the 5-2 favorite and defending winner in the Distaff Turf Mile, passed a tiring Maid On a Mission. It was obvious they weren't going to catch Tepin, who ran on for a two-length triumph in final time of 1:34.12 over firm turf. The course record of 1:33.78 for the distance was set by Jaggery John in 1995.
Tepin, trained by Mark Casse, paid $20.20, $8.20, and $5.80. Coffee Clique was worth $8.20 and $5.80, with Sandiva returning $3.20.
Completing the order were Lady Lara, Maid On a Mission, Strike Charmer, Personal Diary, I'm Already Sexy, Kitty Wine, Solid Appeal, Kiss Moon, Water Hole, and Grand Elmendorf.
"When they got the half in :48 and change, I said, 'It should be over'," said Casse, adding that Tepin had attracted a lot of attention earlier in the week when she was the workmate of Derby hopeful Danzig Moon.
"I really like the filly and was confident today," Leparoux said, adding that the pre-race strategy was to have the filly go out in front in a race without much speed.
The victory was the fourth in 10 career starts for Tepin, who was bred in Kentucky by Machmer Hall Farm and purchased by Masterson for $140,000 from the Select Sales consignment to the 2012 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga August yearling sale.
Previous to the Distaff Turf Mile on the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) undercard, the filly won an allowance/optional claimer at Gulfstream Park, her first turf victory from four previous tries on grass. Tepin won the 2013 Delta Downs Princess Stakes (gr. III).