Tepin brilliant comeback winner of Endeavour
Reigning champion turf mare Tepin made an impressive return to the races
Saturday, storming through the stretch to take the $150,000 Endeavour (G3) at
Tampa Bay Downs by 3 1/2 lengths. It was the fiver-year-old’s first start
since beating males in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) last October.
Earlier at Tampa Bay Downs, the longer-priced of Todd Pletcher’s two entries,
Destin, captured the $200,000 Sam F. Davis (G3) at odds of 4-1. Ridden by
John Velazquez, the gray son of Giant’s Causeway won by 2 1/4 lengths in the
Tampa Bay Derby (G2). The favorite Gettysburg, also trained by Pletcher, ran
fifth in the field of six.
Frank Conversation joined the Kentucky Derby picture by scoring a nice win in
the El Camino Real Derby (G3), his second straight stakes win at Golden Gate
Fields after taking the California Derby in January.
At Santa Anita,
Bolo returned from a seven-month layoff to post an upset over front-running,
odds-on favorite Obviously in the $200,000 Arcadia (G2) over a mile on the
turf. Later on the card,
Tara’s Tango earned her first stakes win with a rallying victory in the Santa
Maria S. (G2).
Also on Saturday,
Penwith easily turned back a run from Sandiva to earn her first stakes victory
in the Royal Delta S. (G2) at Gulfstream Park, while Dancing House gave
Godolphin and trainer Kiaran McLaughlin
another graded stakes triumph in the $300,000 Barbara Fritchie (G2) at Laurel.
Triple Crown hopefuls were out in force on Saturday at Fair Grounds and
Gulfstream, working toward upcoming Kentucky Derby (G1) points races.
Tom’s Ready topped a busy Fair Grounds tab made up of Risen Star (G2) runners
while
Awesome Banner and Cherry Wine prepared for the Fountain of Youth (G2) at
Gulfstream.
Posted at the TwinSpires.com blog late Friday was a
preview of Monday’s $200,000 San Vicente (G2), featuring juvenile champion
colt Nyquist and multiple graded stakes winner Exaggerator. Also, foreign editor
Kellie Reilly provided her
weekly roundup of international racing news.