Much lower price on Tepin this year in Distaff Turf Mile

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A year ago, Tepin walked over to the paddock for the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile as a filly well thought of by her connections but essentially dismissed by the betting public as she looked for her first graded stakes win on turf against a field that included several Grade 1 winners. She won by 1 1/2 lengths and paid $20.20.

Oh, how times have changed.

“I’ve thought about that,” trainer Mark Casse said. “Tepin was a longshot, and no one really knew who she is. Now everyone knows who she is.”

On Saturday, Tepin will walk over as the reigning divisional champion and prohibitive favorite for the Grade 2, $300,000 race. She has won five consecutive races, including the Breeders’ Cup Mile against males last fall – and is just a nose and a head from being unbeaten in the past year. Tepin comes in off a dominant victory in the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley Stakes at Keeneland, which she won by five lengths in stakes-record time.

“They’re starting to talk about her in the same sentence with some of the greatest turf horses of all time,” Casse said. “For us, we now feel the pressure of not letting her down. It’s not about us, it’s about her. We’ve been beat many times. So, you can definitely carry added pressure to not let her down.”

Tepin drew the rail in a field of nine that looks to have a fair amount of speed. Isabella Sings tried to get the jump on the champion in the Grade 2 Hillsborough Stakes in March at Tampa Bay Downs, leading by as many as 18 lengths before Tepin reeled her in through the stretch. Isabella Sings, who drew post 4 under John Velazquez for trainer Todd Pletcher, is also among those who has shown an affinity for the Churchill Downs turf, defeating Rainha Da Bateria by a half-length in the Grade 2 Mrs. Revere Stakes last November.

Cash Control, a stakes winner on the Fair Grounds turf over the winter, also does her best work on the front end and could give Isabella Sings some company, along with Grade 2 winner She’s Not Here. The latter has succeeded running both up front and from off the pace; she most recently set the pace in the Jenny Wiley before fading.

While Tepin can assume control if need be – she won last year’s Distaff Turf Mile on the front end – she typically sits just off the leaders under regular rider Julien Leparoux.

“We let Julien worry about [the pace scenario],” Casse said. “The good thing about Tepin is she can do a little bit of everything.”

Casse also saddles Josdesanimaux, who is coming off a career-high Beyer Speed Figure in her first start for the barn.

Two others also come in with career-best form. Bureau de Change has dramatically improved her Beyers to run three straight figures of 90 or higher but was fourth in the Hillsborough. Zipessa, who has lost just once from four starts, won an optional claimer at Fair Grounds last out.

Distaff Turf Mile, Race 6

Key contenders

Tepin, by BernsteinLast 3 Beyers: 107-107-99

◗ Beginning with last year’s Distaff Turf Mile, she has run triple-digit Beyers in eight of nine races, plus one 99.

◗ Her current win streak includes the Grade 1 First Lady Stakes, Breeders’ Cup Mile, Grade 3 Endeavour Stakes, the Hillsborough, and the Jenny Wiley.

Isabella Sings, by EskendereyaLast 3 Beyers: 105-99-84

◗ Earned a career-high Beyer of 105 when second to Tepin in the Hillsborough last out.

◗ Has shown an affinity for the Churchill Downs turf course with a Grade 2 victory here last fall.

Rainha Da Bateria, by Broken VowLast 3 Beyers: 89-92-98

◗ Finished a good second in the Mrs. Revere here last fall; however, she hasn’t won since taking the Grade 3 Jessamine Stakes as a juvenile and was seventh in the Hillsborough.

◗ Gets blinkers on as she makes her first start for Chad Brown.

A previous version of this article misstated the grade of the Hillsborough Stakes. It is a Grade 2, not a Grade 3.