Tepin must fend off trio of European shippers in First Lady
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Few turf fillies, if any, have enjoyed a more productive campaign in North America this year than Tepin, who is just a head and a nose shy of having a decisive edge atop the division.
“She’s about six inches shy of having a heck of a record,” said trainer Mark Casse.
Wicked beats in the Grade 1 Diana and Grade 2 Ballston Spa at Saratoga this summer have kept Tepin from being perfect in five starts as a 4-year-old. With those bitter losses behind her, Tepin will soldier forth with a potential Breeders’ Cup berth on the line when she breaks from the outside of her 10 opponents Saturday in the 18th running of the Grade 1, $400,000 First Lady at Keeneland.
The First Lady, a two-turn mile over what likely will be a saturated Keeneland turf course, is carded as the seventh of 10 Saturday races. Rain was in the local forecast for Friday and Saturday.
“It actually looks like a pretty tough race, an interesting race,” said Casse. “I’d prefer a better post, but hopefully some other speed will clear off, and we can sit a little off it and save some ground. She won’t mind any give in the ground either.”
Julien Leparoux, a 10-time leading jockey at Keeneland, has ridden Tepin in every one of her races this year and retains the mount Saturday.
The First Lady is one of just two stakes here this weekend (with the Woodford) that is not a Win and You’re In event toward the Oct. 30-31 Breeders’ Cup, but not to worry. Casse said the 1 3/16-mile distance of the BC Filly and Mare Turf is “a little too far for her,” and a good effort probably would lead to a shot against male rivals in the BC Mile.
A trio of European fillies – Crowley’s Law, Easter, and Outstanding – appears to be among the chief opposition for Tepin. Probably the most capable domestic rivals are She’s Not Here and My Miss Sophia.
Since its 1998 inaugural, the First Lady has undergone a handful of name and sponsorship changes. The race has been won three times by horses who then won the BC Filly and Mare Turf on the stretch-out – Intercontinental (2005), Forever Together (2008), and Dayatthespa (2014). The longest-priced winner in race history was an 8-1 shot, Stay Forever in 2004.
KEY CONTENDERS
Tepin (Last 3 Beyers: 101-101-101)
◗ After starting her year with an inconspicuous optional-claiming win at Gulfstream Park in March, this tactically sound filly has been on a steady surge toward the top of the division, winning the Grade 2 Distaff Turf Mile and Grade 1 Just a Game prior to her narrow Saratoga defeats.
Easter (No Beyers)
◗ One of two Irish-bred 3-year-olds in here (with Outstanding) trained by the iconic Aidan O’Brien for Coolmore, she might have a little more to recommend; both fillies are by Galileo, who continues to rank among the world’s preeminent sires.
She’s Not Here (Last 3 Beyers: 90-91-69)
◗ The winner of the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon at Del Mar in her last start for trainer Vicki Oliver and jockey Mike Smith, this filly will be looking to capitalize on what could be a fast pace (Jealous Cat, Kiss Moon, Cara Marie); she sure has come a long way in recent months.
My Miss Sophia (Last 3 Beyers: 99-96-96)
◗ This classy filly has made a seamless transition to the turf since Bill Mott assumed her training and finished less than a length behind Tepin in the Aug. 29 Ballston Spa. Her versatile running style gives jockey Jose Lezcano some options here.
A previous version of this article incorrectly stated the number of Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf winners that won the First Lady. There have been three. Forever Together (2008) was omitted.