Tepin sticking with females in First Lady

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – What happened in Southern California over the weekend probably was the biggest factor in trainer Mark Casse deciding to run Tepin against her own sex when Keeneland opens this weekend.

A subpar effort by California Chrome in the Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita might have convinced Casse to try Tepin against males again in the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile. But when California Chrome blew away the opposition Saturday, further strengthening his position as the favorite for 2016 Horse of the Year, Casse figured a less-demanding prep in the Grade 1 First Lady at Keeneland on Saturday was the best way to proceed toward a title defense in the Nov. 5 Breeders’ Cup Mile.

Tepin arrived at Churchill Downs before dawn Sunday following an overnight van ride from Saratoga, where on Friday the champion turf mare had her final workout for the one-mile First Lady, breezing a half-mile in 49 seconds over turf.

“She’s as good as we can get her right now,” said Casse’s son and assistant, Norm, who has spent much of the last three months or so at Saratoga with Tepin.

Tepin has a 6-for-6 record this year that under different circumstances might have made her the top candidate for Horse of the Year. But California Chrome has dominated the older-horse dirt-route races that typically carry more weight with Eclipse Award voters, whereas Tepin has raced in turf races at a mile or a bit longer.

In 2012-13, Wise Dan won back-to-back Horse of the Year titles as essentially a turf miler, but the older-horse and 3-year-old divisions were not particularly strong in either year.

“I think we know that it’s California Chrome’s title to lose,” Mark Casse told Churchill Downs publicity. “He’s had an unbelievable year. We’re just honored to be in the discussion. We hope to end her campaign the right way. We’ve got two more races this year, so all we can do is hope for the best.”

Tepin will be a heavy favorite to keep her season perfect in the $400,000 First Lady, with Miss Temple City and Nemoralia her chief rivals. The Shadwell Turf Mile on Saturday is shaping up with a highly contentious group that includes Mondialiste, Ring Weekend, Tourist, Kasaqui, Grand Arch, and Ironicus.

The 17-day fall meet opens Friday at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky. The three-day weekend includes nine graded stakes, all but two of them Win and You’re In events toward the Nov. 4-5 Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita.

The Grade 2 Phoenix Stakes, which helps open the meet Friday with the Grade 1 Alcibiades, got a major shake-up over the weekend when trainer Arnaud Delacour scratched A. P. Indian out of the Vosburgh Invitational at Belmont to run instead in the Phoenix. In turn, owner Ahmed Zayat announced via Twitter that Jazzy Times, who had been intended for the Phoenix, will stay home in California to run in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship on Saturday.

Not This Time breezes

Not This Time began his serious work toward the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile with a half-mile breeze in 49 seconds Sunday at Churchill. It was the first work for the Giant’s Causeway colt since his eye-catching 8 3/4-length victory in the Sept. 17 Iroquois at Churchill.

“He’s such a gifted horse,” said trainer Dale Romans. “It’s my job to keep him happy and healthy and moving forward to the Breeders’ Cup.”

Romans said he is still thinking about when to send Not This Time to Santa Anita for the Nov. 5 Juvenile. In prior years, Romans has sent his BC contingent to California nearly two weeks out so as to get the horses familiar with the track.

◗ Turf racing at Churchill was canceled the last four days of the September meet because of concerns over the condition of the course.

“There was a lot of give to it whenever we rode on it,” said jockey Brian Hernandez Jr., who won three of the 10 turf races conducted at the 109-race meet. “There were big chunks flying up.”

Officials clearly took a conservative approach in preserving the course for the 21-day fall meet, which starts Oct. 30.

“We just got unlucky with the weather for that last week,” said Churchill spokesman John Asher. “We’ll hope for better in the fall.”

◗ Last weekend was such a good one for trainer Dallas Stewart that even his beloved New Orleans Saints pulled out a win. After winning the Ack Ack at Churchill with Tom’s Ready for Saints owner Tom Benson and the Beldame at Belmont with Forever Unbridled on Saturday, Stewart wisecracked: “We can’t win no football games, but we can win a horse race.”

The Saints rallied late to nip San Diego 35-34 on Sunday for their first win in four NFL games.