Casse Contingent Hits the Track

Reigning champion turf female and defending Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) heroine Tepin made her first appearance on the Santa Anita Park track Nov. 1, highlighting a relatively quiet morning of activity in advance of the two-day Breeders' Cup World Championships Nov. 4-5.

Robert Masterson's Tepin shipped with the rest of trainer Mark Casse's Breeders' Cup contingent Oct. 31, and all seven contenders went through some easy paces Tuesday morning. The 5-year-old daughter of Bernstein went out under the cover of early morning darkness and was followed in the next set by grade I winner Classic Empire, the 4-1 second choice on the morning line for the Sentient Jet Juvenile (gr. I).

"I thought it was a nice day. We just had a nice jogging day," said Casse, who will also saddle Victory to Victory and La Coronel (Juvenile Fillies Turf), Keep Quiet (Juvenile Turf), Catch a Glimpse (Filly & Mare Turf), and Valadorna (Juvenile Fillies). "I think everybody settled in nice. Everyone is eating and happy."

Other leading Breeders' Cup contenders taking to the track for the first time Tuesday included multiple grade I winners and Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) contenders Curalina and I'm a Chatterbox, the latter of which had a particularly strong gallop with trainer Larry Jones in the irons.

Several international contenders cleared quarantine and took their first spins around the oval, including Arlington Million (gr. IT) winner Mondialiste, who got quite warm during his time on the track as he readies for the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT).

A smattering of contenders turned in their final timed workouts Tuesday morning, with Paulassilverlining (Filly & Mare Sprint) going four furlongs in :51 flat. American Gal (Juvenile Fillies) clocking a half-mile in :46 in company, Holy Lute (Turf Sprint) going three furlongs in :36 1/5, Coasted (Juvenile Fillies Turf) working three furlongs in :36 on the turf, and defending Turf Sprint (gr. IT) winner Mongolian Saturday blowing out a quarter-mile in :24.

Multiple stakes winner Enchanting Lady was expected to be among the entrants for the Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I), but was not entered Oct. 31. Trainer Bob Baffert said Tuesday the daughter of Tale of the Cat   would miss the race because of a bruised frog.