Breeders' Cup Mile: Tepin turns in maintenance-type half-mile workout

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Tepin put in her final maintenance move in advance of her Breeders’ Cup Mile defense on Friday morning, leading a bevy of workers for trainer Mark Casse in the pre-dawn darkness at Churchill Downs.

With regular jockey Julien Leparoux aboard, Tepin was among the first workers when the track opened at 6 a.m. and turned in a half-mile in 49 seconds, a move Norm Casse, top assistant to his father, called “her typical thing.” Tepin turned in splits of 12.20 and 24.60 seconds en route to her final time; she galloped out five furlongs in 1:02 and six furlongs in 1:16.60.

“We were out there looking for a maintenance-type work,” Casse said.

Jessamine Stakes winner La Coronel was also out early, going four furlongs in 47.80 and galloping out five furlongs in 1:00.40 in a sharp final move for the Juvenile Fillies Turf. In the next set, 2-year-old colts Classic Empire and Keep Quiet were on fairly even terms while working in company in 50 seconds. The pair, bound for the Juvenile and Juvenile Turf, respectively, galloped out in 1:03 and pulled up six furlongs in 1:16.40.

“They went off a little slower than we would have liked, but they finished strong and galloped out great,” Casse said.

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Later in the morning, after the maintenance break, Grade 1 winner Victory to Victory, also among the pre-entries for the Juvenile Fillies Turf, worked a half-mile in 48.40 in company with City Flyer.

“I think she’s kind of coming in under the radar,” Casse said of Victory to Victory.

The Casse contingent is scheduled to fly to Santa Anita on Monday. Catch a Glimpse, who is pre-entered in both the Filly and Mare Turf and Turf Sprint, and Valadorna, a Juvenile Fillies hopeful, will van over from their Keeneland base on Sunday to travel with the group.