Robert Masterson's Tepin picked an opportune moment for her first stakes score, as the 2-year-old filly ran down favorite Bahnah for a facile victory in the $500,000 Delta Princess Stakes (gr. III) at Delta Downs Race Track Casino Hotel Nov. 23 (VIDEO).
The victory for the daughter of Bernstein—Life Happened, by Stravinsky, was the second in four starts and improved Tepin's bankroll to $342,084. Bred in Kentucky by Machmer Hall, she was purchased by her owner for $140,000 from the Select Sales consignment to the 2012 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga August yearling sale.
With regular rider Miguel Mena aboard for trainer Mark Casse in the race for juvenile fillies, Tepin was settled into fourth off the moderate pace set by longshot Zip On and jockey Robbie Albarado, who got the first half mile in fractional splits of :22.90 and :47.50 while being pressed by Bahnah.
Badnah and jockey Rosie Napravnik took over rounding the second turn in the mile main track test as Tepin mounted a steady drive on the outside and those two distanced themselves from the rest of the field. Tepin gained the advantage in deep stretch and drew off to win by 1 1/4 lengths, with Bahnah finishing 5 1/4 lengths in front of grade II winner and California shipper Concave under Mario Gutierrez.
The final time was 1:38.95 as the winner paid $9.00, $5.00, and $3.00. Bahnah was worth $4.00 and $2.80, with Concave paying $3.20. The exacta paid $32.20. The order was completed by Synapse, Miss Behaviour—Matron Stakes (gr. II) winner and second choice who was in a stalking position midway through the race before leveling off—Zip On, and Appreciating, also trained by Casse.
The victory was the second in a major stake for juvenile fillies Nov. 23 for Casse, who shortly before the post for the Delta Princess was represented by winner Zensational Bunny in the $128,000 Glorious Song Stakes at Woodbine.
Previous to the Delta Princess, Tepin broke her maiden in her second start at Churchill Downs and was third as the favorite in that track's Rags to Riches Stakes.
