Tepin cruises through work for Woodbine Mile

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Tepin, the champion female turf horse of 2015, continued her strong preparation for the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile with a five-furlong move in 1:00.11 over the Oklahoma turf course on Monday.

Tepin, under Florent Geroux, worked in company with the 2-year-old maiden Enstone, who began the breeze two lengths in front. Tepin tracked Enstone through splits of 12.96 seconds, 24.79, and 36.94. It wasn’t until inside the last sixteenth that Tepin accelerated past Enstone, who rejoined Tepin on the gallop-out.

Trainer Mark Casse said Enstone was asked for more on the gallop-out because the maiden 2-year-old filly is pointing to the Natalma Stakes at Woodbine on Sept. 18.

“We think she’s a pretty good filly, too,” Casse said.

Casse said he is basically in maintenance mode with Tepin, who has now worked five times over the Oklahoma turf course since her victory in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot in June. The Woodbine Mile is on Sept. 17.

“I’m very happy with where we’re at,” Casse said. “I just want to make sure everything stays the same. I don’t think you could ask her to be training any better.”

◗ Jose Lezcano has hired Matt Muzikar to be his agent, replacing Jason Beides, who represented Lezcano for 12 years. Muzikar recently parted ways with Javier Castellano, the three-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey who has hired Mike Lakow to be his new agent.