Tepin points to Endeavour Stakes as first start of year

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. – Fresh off a second straight Eclipse Award as champion female turf horse Saturday night, Tepin on Sunday morning was preparing for her 2017 campaign with a half-mile grass workout at Palm Meadows in 47.80 seconds that left trainer Mark Casse believing the Grade 3, $150,000 Endeavour Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 11 is within reach for her first start of the year.

Casse has big goals for Tepin this year. He would like to send her to Dubai for the $6 million Dubai Turf at the end of March, and said he needs to make the Endeavour to have a suitable prep. He also said he would like to return to Royal Ascot, where Tepin won the Queen Anne last year.

Tepin worked in company on Sunday and was absolutely breezing through the lane, eager to do more. She galloped out with authority.

“That was impressive,” Casse said of Tepin’s drill, only her second work of the year. She worked Jan. 8, but not again until Sunday.

“She kicked a wall last week. She’s quiet, but all of a sudden a little something will set her off,” Casse said. “She lost a hind shoe, and was a little tender on the foot for a few days, so we backed up a planned breeze.

“I’d like to go to Dubai, but she needs to make the Endeavour. I wouldn’t run her first time out this year in Dubai. Later on this year, we’re flirting with the idea of going back to Royal Ascot.”

Tepin was second in her final start of 2016 in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, a race she won in 2015.