Tepin confirmed in foal to Curlin

Two-time champion turf mare Tepin has been confirmed in foal to two-time Horse of the Year Curlin on an April 30 cover.

Tepin, owned by Robert Masterson, is being boarded at Hill 'n' Dale Farm near Lexington, Ky., where Curlin stands.

Tepin was retired last month with a career record of 23-13-5-1, including nine Grade 1/Group 1 wins or placings in three countries, earnings of $4,437,918, and Eclipse Awards as outstanding turf female for both 2015 and 2016. Her career was highlighted by a victory in the 2016 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, making her the only American-based runner to win the prestigious event, and a score in the 2015 Breeders' Cup Mile, a race she was second in the following season.

Curlin, whose stud fee rose to $150,000 this season, is the sire of Belmont Stakes winner Palace Malice, Preakness Stakes winner Exaggerator, and champion Stellar Wind, among several other Grade 1 winners. Tepin adds luster to what was already an outstanding book for the rising star, who also has been bred to Grade 1 winners Cavorting, Marketing Mix, Rachel’s Valentina, and Taris in 2017.

Although Curlin raced primarily on dirt and Tepin found her best footing on turf, the two have shown crossover potential. Tepin won the Grade 3 Delta Princess Stakes on dirt as a juvenile, while Curlin was second to Breeders' Cup Turf winner Red Rocks in the Grade 1 Man o' War Stakes on turf.

"She actually broke her maiden on synthetic," said Mark Casse, who trained Tepin throughout her career. "She won on dirt, she was a good horse on dirt, but we moved her to the grass and never went back. She was just a great horse. It didn't really matter. We could have ran backwards. I'm sure if they had swimming races, she probably would have won that, too."

Hopes are high for Tepin, by the late Bernstein, as a broodmare because of her outstanding female family. She is out of the Stravinsky mare Life Happened, a two-time finalist for Kentucky Broodmare of the Year, and the dam of graded-stakes-winning millionaire Vyjack and graded-stakes-placed Prime Cut.

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