Robert Masterson's Tepin (Bernstein), champion turf mare of 2015 and a recent game runner-up in the Nov. 5 GI Breeders Cup Mile for trainer Mark Casse, will be pointed to the $6-million G1 Dubai Duty Free S. Mar. 25 as an early goal for 2017, assistant trainer Norman Casse confirmed Sunday. While Team Casse suggested that Tepin could make a trip to Hong Kong for the Dec. 11 G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile in the aftermath of the Breeders' Cup, Casse said that a decision has been made to give the mare more recovery time.
“She seemed like she was a little bit tired from the trip back [from Santa Anita to Churchill Downs],” Casse said. “We kind of set out our goals and our main goal right now is to send her to Dubai. We feel the best way to do that is to forget the Hong Kong trip and get her to a race early on at Tampa to get her ready for Dubai.”
Casse, assistant to his father, added that Tepin will likely prep for her trip to Meydan in Tampa Bay Downs' GIII Lambholm South Endeavour S. Feb. 11–a race that she used to springboard her 2016 campaign, which included Group/Grade I wins in the Apr. 16 Jenny Wiley S. at Keeneland, the June 14 Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot and the Sept. 17 Woodbine Mile at Woodbine. The 5-year-old also captured the GIII Hillsborough S. at Tampa Bay Downs Mar. 12 and the GII Distaff Turf Mile S. at Churchill May 7, contributing to a resume that seemingly has her bound for another Eclipse Award in the female turf division. Entering the Breeders' Cup off a runner-up finish in the GI First Lady S. at Keeneland, Tepin made a wide move around the far turn and closed to report home a half-length short of Tourist (Tiznow).
Tepin will remain at the Casse barn for the rest of the Churchill Downs Fall Meet, but Casse added that she will likely not engage in any serious training until she travels south for the winter.
“We'll probably just wait until we're down in Florida for that,” he said.
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