Last year's Eclipse champion turf mare Tepin, a sparkling winner of her 2016 debut in the GIII Lambholm South Endeavor S. over the Tampa Bay turf Feb. 13, ran down pacesetting Isabella Sings late to make it two-for-two in the new year with a one-length victory in Saturday's GII Hillsborough S. Away well, Tepin settled easily into stride as Isabella Sings bolted out to a open-length advantage. Isabella Sings, last-out winner of the GII Mrs. Revere S., was well clear through fractions of :23.49 and :45.95. Tepin began reeling in the pacesetter after three-quarters in 1:09.15, but was still some eight lengths back at the top of the stretch, but once set down for the drive, the champion closed relentlessly and surged past the pacesetter to score with ease.
Asked for his immediate reaction after the race, winning trainer Mark Casse said, “Relief.”
He admitted, “I was a little worried after the first quarter, but I'm happy. I'm always nervous. It's funny, the distance worked in our favor today. She's quite a horse. She can do a little bit of everything; that's what makes her so amazing.”
Winning owner Robert Masterson remained in awe of his champion mare.
“She is older, smarter, and more relaxed,” Masterson said. “She doesn't have to be on the lead now, or close to the lead. She can sit back and pick her spot. Words can't describe this. At the top of the lane she was still eight lengths behind, but she's got the biggest turn of foot you'll see in the last eighth.”
Tepin won five of seven races during her 2015 championship season, including victories in the GI Just a Game S. and GI First Lady S. She capped the year with a 2 1/4-length victory over the boys in the Oct. 31 GI Breeders' Cup Mile. She returned in style with an effortless 3 1/2-length score in the Endeavor last time out.
Saturday, Tampa Bay Downs
HILLSBOROUGH S.-GII, $200,000, TAM, 3-12, 4yo/up, f/m,
1 1/8mT, 1:46.26, fm.
1–TEPIN, 122, m, 5, by Bernstein
1st Dam: Life Happened, by Stravinsky
2nd Dam: Round It Off, by Apalachee
3rd Dam: Capp It Off, by Double Zeus
($140,000 Ylg '12 FTSAUG). O-Robert E. Masterson;
B-Machmer Hall (KY); T-Mark E. Casse; J-Julien R. Leparoux.
$120,000. Lifetime Record: Ch. Grass Mare, MGISW, 17-9-3-1,
$2,685,973. *Full to Prime Cut, MGSP, $167,426; and a half to
Vyjack (Into Mischief), MGSW & MGISP, $1,101,700. Werk Nick
Rating: C+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.[bullet ad=”machmer-hall-foaledbredraised”][bullet ad=”selectsales-shell”][bullet ad=”kbif-g2g3″][bullet ad=”greathouse-yearlingpurchase”] 2–Isabella Sings, 120, f, 4, Eskendereya–Isobel Baillie (GB), by
Lomitas (GB). O/B-Siena Farm LLC (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher.
$40,000.[bullet ad=”keckrobert-matingrecommendation”][bullet ad=”equix-optimatch”]3–Lovely Loyree, 116, m, 5, Cactus Ridge–Lil Cora Tee, by Lil E.
Tee. O-Feel The Thunder Stable, Oak Rock Racing, LLC, Bojarski,
Biondo et al.; B-Barr Three LLC (IL); T-Michele Boyce. $20,000.
Margins: 1, 5, 1 1/4. Odds: 0.40, 7.80, 90.50.
Also Ran: Bureau de Change, Button Down (GB), Danza Cavallo (Fr), Rainha Da Bateria, Ball Dancing, Royal Jewely, Speed Seeker.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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