Tepin leaves no doubt in First Lady Stakes

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Tepin wasn’t getting beat any noses today.

The filly, who endured two heartbreakingly narrow defeats at the hands of rallying rivals at Saratoga over the summer, drew clear in the stretch for an emphatic seven-length victory in the Grade 1, $400,000 First Lady Stakes on Saturday at Keeneland.

“About the eighth pole, I was looking for somebody to come running,” trainer Mark Casse said. “She’s lost such tough ones.”

After the race, Casse reiterated that Tepin’s next start will come in the Breeders’ Cup Mile against males, as opposed to the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf, feeling that the Mile will suit her better than the 1 3/16-mile distance of the Filly and Mare Turf. Tepin’s two Grade 1 victories, in the First Lady and the Just a Game at Belmont, came at a mile.

“A mile’s her game,” Casse said. “We’d already talked about it. I think the Mile makes the most sense, and hey, we know she likes Keeneland.”

Julien Leparoux guided Tepin ($5.40), who broke from the outside post in the field of 11, over to the 4 path to save some ground into the first turn, tracking the moderate pace set by Cara Marie. Tepin began ranging up on the leader on the far turn and assumed command entering the stretch. From there, the outcome was never in doubt, as she drew clear under a hand ride.

The final time on the course rated soft was 1:37.04.

“One thing about her, she runs on every turf course that you throw at her,” Casse said. “She sure cherished it today. I think she was sharper than ever. When I put Julien on her, I said, ‘Hang on, she is fired up.’ ”

Crowley’s Law, who had tracked Cara Marie and Tepin in third early, held well for second, while My Miss Sophia rallied for third.

Tepin has blossomed this year to become one of the standout turf females in the country, winning the Just a Game and the Grade 2 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile to go with her two narrow beats at Saratoga. She pushed her career earnings past $1.3 million with the win Saturday.

Tepin is entered for the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall select mixed sale the day after the Breeders’ Cup. However, Casse said owner Robert Masterson has indicated that the filly could scratch from the sale to run another year.

“I think that was just in case something were to happen, but the indication from Mr. Masterson is that as long as she’s happy and healthy, she’ll continue to run another year,” Casse said.