Tepin Seeks Rebound in Ballston Spa

Robert Masterson's Tepin, who is a nose away from being undefeated in four starts this year, appears well-spotted to get back on the winning track in the $400,000 Ketel One Ballston Spa Stakes (gr. IIT) Aug. 29 at Saratoga Race Course.

 

The Ballston Spa, at 1 1/16 miles on the outer turf course, is the 12th race on a 13-race Saturday program that features the grade I Travers Stakes, which will go as race 11.

 

Tepin, trained by Mark Casse, won her first three starts of 2015, including the grade II Distaff Turf Mile at Churchill Downs and the grade I Just A Game Stakes at Belmont Park, both on grass. In her most recent start, the July 25 Diana Stakes (gr. IT) at Saratoga, the 4-year-old Bernstein filly rated in third for most of the way, rallied in late stretch and appeared a winner, but was nailed at the finish by Hard Not to Like.

 

The Diana was raced at 1 1/8 miles. The Ballston Spa is a sixteenth of a mile shorter, and Tepin drew the inside post, which could play to her favor given the fact she has early speed to get position. Julien Leparoux, who has ridden Tepin all year, has the call at 123 pounds, the highest in the field of eight.

 

Tepin this year has defeated five of her Ballston Spa foes, including Alpha Delta Stables' My Miss Sophia, a 4-year-old Unbridled's Song filly trained by Bill Mott. My Miss Sophia won her turf debut in an allowance race at Belmont, and then finished fourth in the Diana after chasing in second for much of the trip.

 

John Velazquez has the call aboard My Miss Sophia at 121 pounds from post 3. The cutback to 1 1/16 miles could also work to her advantage.

 

Trainer Chad Brown will send out the Chilean-bred filly Dacita for Sheep Pond Partners and Bradley Thoroughbreds. By Scat Daddy  , 4-year-old Dacita will make her first start of the year, and her United States debut, after winning three group I stakes from one mile to 1 1/4 miles on turf in Chile.

 

Javier Castellano will ride Dacita from post 4 at 121 pounds off a series of steady works at Saratoga