Dacita tries to topple Tepin again in Jenny Wiley
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Chad Brown is coming at Tepin with guns blazing. Racing fans know that if any trainer can topple the champion, it is Brown, who in recent seasons has established himself as the most successful trainer in North America with turf horses.
In fact, the last horse to defeat Tepin was Dacita, who will be part of an uncoupled Brown entry when the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley is run Saturday on the Keeneland turf. Making her first start on this continent, Dacita edged Tepin by a head last August at Saratoga.
Dacita and Wekeela, a new shooter in the Brown barn, are among eight fillies and mares expected to challenge Tepin in the $350,000 Jenny Wiley, which goes at 1 1/16 miles.
Dacita did not run to expectations in finishing ninth here last fall in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf, but that may have been attributable to wet ground, said Brown. “She prefers it firm,” he said.
And with perfect weather here all week, that’s just what she’ll get.
Wekeela, a Group 3 winner in France, is a filly “with a lot of ability,” said Brown, who won the 2015 Jenny Wiley with Ball Dancing. “The mile and a sixteenth might be a little short for her, but we think it’s a good spot to get her started despite the fact Tepin is in there.”
It all comes back to Tepin – and why shouldn’t it? The 5-year-old mare has been in sensational form for more than a year now, winning seven of nine races (with two photo-finish defeats) during a remarkable span that included her being voted the 2015 Eclipse Award for top filly or mare on turf. Her romp here last fall against male rivals in the Breeders’ Cup Mile was roundly praised as one of the most impressive performances during the entire two-day spectacle.
“I can’t say enough good things about her,” said Mark Casse, who trains Tepin for owner Robert Masterson. “Her record shows what a top-class mare she is. We’re just proud and thankful to have her in the barn.”
Julien Leparoux, the 10-time Keeneland riding titlist who has ridden Tepin in her last nine starts, will be back aboard Saturday. They’re supposed to break from post 8 but most likely will do so from no farther out than post 7, given the expected scratch of the rail-drawn Miss Temple City, who was cross-entered in the Maker’s 46 Mile on Friday.
Another notable in this 28th running of the Jenny Wiley is Akatea, who will be making her American debut for Christophe Clement after a distinguished 3-year-old campaign that ended with a second in the Grade 1 Prix du Moulin and a third in the Grade 2 Wildenstein, both against males at Longchamp in France.
Wekeela and Akatea both will be treated with Lasix for the first time.
Rounding out the lineup are Recepta, Itsonlyactingdad, Illuminant, She’s Not Here, and Tiger Ride. Of those, maybe Recepta stands the best chance for an upset following a series of strong workouts in Florida in recent weeks.
The Jenny Wiley, named for the legendary pioneer who died in 1831, was first run in 1989, when Craig Perret won aboard Native Mommy. It is the last of four straight stakes here Saturday and the 10th of 11 races.
KEY CONTENDERS
Tepin, by Bernstein
Last 3 Beyers: 107-99-110
◗ Her speed and versatility always seem to allow Leparoux to have her in a perfect spot, and with a race that doesn’t seem to have much pace, they should figure prominently from the start.
◗ Two maintenance breezes since her latest victory in the Grade 2 Hillsborough at Tampa were “enough to keep her on her toes,” said Casse.
Dacita, by Scat Daddy
Last 3 Beyers: 91-86-103
◗ Her Breeders’ Cup disappointment followed her upset of Tepin at Saratoga, and she has started only once since then: a second-place finish in the Grade 3 The Very One in March at Gulfstream in which she couldn’t overcome a dawdling pace.
Wekeela, by Hurricane Run
◗ Brown and owner Martin Schwartz have a knack for faring extremely well with fillies with her type of background.
Akatea, by Shamardal
◗ The Longchamp races in which she competed last fall were very prestigious, and surely she’ll come well prepped for a trainer best known for his work with turf runners.