Tepin unlikely to challenge males in Woodford Reserve

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Tepin is a late nominee to the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic but is still more likely to stay within the filly-and-mare division when appearing on Kentucky Derby Day at Churchill Downs, trainer Mark Casse said Wednesday.

“Running on Derby Day has always been the plan,” said Casse. “We just wanted another option in case we need one, that’s all.”

Tepin, a 5-year-old mare owned by Robert Masterson, likely will start in the Grade 2, $300,000 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile, a race she won last year. She is one of five late nominees to the Grade 1, $500,000 Woodford, a 1 1/8-mile race in which Casse plans to run World Approval, owned by Charlotte Weber.

Tepin defeated male rivals in the Breeders’ Cup Mile last fall at Keeneland, and Casse said he sees “no urgency or need to prove anything” in facing them again before the Breeders’ Cup this fall at Santa Anita.

The original nomination fee to the Woodford was $100. A late nomination due April 13 cost $1,000, with World Approval also being made eligible that way. The other three late nominees are Dac, Reporting Star, and Kasaqui.

Tepin will use either Churchill race as a key stepping-stone to the Group 1 Queen Anne, to be run June 14 at Royal Ascot in England. She was an easy winner of the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley last Saturday at Keeneland.

“I much prefer to have her run again before the Ascot race, as opposed to having a layoff,” said Casse. “She thrives on racing.”

Tepin has won her last five races and eight of her last 10. She was voted the Eclipse Award for top filly-and-mare turf runner last year and is the No. 2-rated horse in the latest National Thoroughbred Racing Association poll of top horses in North America, behind only California Chrome.

The Woodford could mark the return of 2015 Eclipse turf champion Big Blue Kitten, who has been working steadily at Palm Meadows in Florida for trainer Chad Brown. Slumber is another possible starter for Brown in the Woodford.

The list of probables for the Woodford, according to Churchill stakes coordinator Dan Bork, also includes Divisidero, Take the Stand, Grand Arch, Grand Tito, and defending champion Finnegans Wake.

“It’s going to be a great race,” said Bork. “On the other hand, we might have some trouble finding horses to run against Tepin” in the Distaff.