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Laurelin up in time to take $135K Tepin

by Mary Eddy

Turf racing in New York concluded for the year with Newstead Stables’ Laurelin scoring a half-length victory in Sunday’s $135,000 Tepin, a one-mile inner turf route for juvenile fillies, at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The win provided trainer Graham Motion with a sweep of the Big A’s two juvenile turf stakes this weekend after he won Saturday’s Listed $150,000 Central Park with Jack and Jim.

“I felt very good about this filly. I wasn’t as sure about the colt yesterday just because it was a big step up, but this filly just trained so well,” Motion said. "She’s a real pro.”

The daughter of Zarak entered from a strong debut victory on October 13 here with Kendrick Carmouche up, rallying from fifth to post a 1 1/2-length victory going 1 1/16 miles. With Carmouche back aboard Sunday, she showed versatility when sitting closer to the front and pouncing on pace-presser Five G in the lane.

“I thought she did something different today. Kendrick kept her a bit closer, which I thought was probably the right thing to do,” Motion said. “She had to add another dimension to her race, and I thought she really did it nicely. Kendrick gave her a super ride.”

Away from post 6 in the eight-horse field, Laurelin settled in fourth through the first turn as the Frankie Dettori-piloted Isle of Capri marked an opening quarter-mile in 23.89 seconds over the firm footing with Five G keeping close watch in second. Laurelin crept closer into the backstretch, but a patient Carmouche held her steady as she and the rail-skimming Presha went head-and-head for third position.

Irad Ortiz, Jr. asked Five G for her best heading into the turn after the half-mile in 49.30 and the filly responded to match strides with a stubborn Isle of Capri as Carmouche coaxed Laurelin in the three-path.

Five G stuck her head in front at the top of the lane as Presha drew closer along the rail and the favored Isle of Capri faded, but Laurelin gained with every stride down the center of the course and inched clear in the final yards to complete the course in 1:36.85.

Five G fended off the inside rush of Presha by a neck for second with Reining Flowers coming on for fourth. Isle of Capri, Pookie, Roshiell My Belle and She’s All Charm, who was bumped at the start, completed the order of finish.

Miriam’s Fire, She’s Our Tiz, and Good Long Cry – who graduated in a Thursday maiden tilt here – were scratched, along with Annie Goodbody and also-eligible Good Conduct.

Motion said Laurelin is a natural on the racetrack.

“She’s so classy. After they run like that first time out, you never quite know how they’re going to handle it [the next race], but she’s taken it in her stride and she really acted well coming into this,” Motion said. “I was excited to run her today.”

Carmouche said he was confident in his mount’s chances after her professional debut.

"Graham had this filly ready. I thought all I had to do was be a little aggressive, if I sit close, I can win the race - I didn't want to be so far out of it,” Carmouche said. “When I asked her, she ran on really, really good. She's a really nice filly.

"She broke really sharp, just the way I wanted her to break, she had me in the right spot,” Carmouche added. “I didn't think they could beat me where I was sitting."

Motion added that like Jack and Jim, Laurelin is likely to head to Florida sometime in the coming weeks with an eye towards a sophomore campaign.

“I think I feel the same about her as I do the colt – obviously, she’ll end up in Florida, but I’m not in a big hurry to run her,” Motion said. “I think she can have a big year next year. There’s so many nice races for these three-year-olds on the grass, and to have one for each division would be a dream. It’s exciting.”

Bred in Ireland by M. H. Dixon and Mount Coote Estates, Laurelin was a $169,488 purchase from Book 1 of the 2023 Goffs Orby Yearling Sale. She banked $74,250 in victory while returning $10.80 on a $2 win wager.

Ortiz, Jr., aboard the George Weaver-trained Five G, said he was impressed with how the New York-bred daughter of Vekoma handled the step up in class after a last-out graduation on November 2 here in her turf debut.

"It was awesome for her second time [on turf]. It was a beautiful trip,” Ortiz, Jr. said. “I got beat by a nice filly, too, who came outside of me and ran me down. My filly was trying. We was running. I think she is still learning, but she's a nice filly.”

Live racing resumes Thursday at Aqueduct Racetrack with an eight-race card. First post is 12:10 p.m. Eastern.

America’s Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of the Aqueduct Racetrack fall meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule/.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, and the best way to bet every race of the fall meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.