Exotics Plays for the Tepin Stakes

A deep group of 11 sophomore fillies will go one mile on the green at Churchill Downs in Saturday’s $275,000 Tepin S. I am expecting a healthy pace in the affair with numerous contenders signed on that like to be in the mix early on, so I will dabble with some deep-closing types in my plays.

Tepin Exotics

• $1 exacta box 6,7,8,9,11 ($20)
• 50-cent trifecta 6,7,11 with 6,7,8,9,11 with 6,7,8,9,11 ($18)
• 10-cent superfecta 11 with 6,7,8,9 with 6,7,8,9 with all ($9.60)

#11 Turner’s Charm (10-1), one of two late runners in the field for Brendan Walsh, came from last to win by a head in the allowance ranks on this course in her 2026 debut and should improve second time back. The daughter of stout turf sire Not This Time has improved her Brisnet Speed rating with each lifetime run to date, and the bargain $75,000 purchase should have a clear journey throughout while breaking from the widest post in the field. Ben Curtis retains the ride. 

The Rusty Arnold-trained #7 How About Now (8-1) is two-for-two since having blinkers added, led by a convincing score in the Cleopatra H. at Indiana last time out. Also by Not This Time, the Summer Wind homebred has been strong in her two recent tallies, and the sophomore will be asked for her best approaching the turn for home by Axel Concepcion. 

#6 Bohemian (10-1) doesn’t necessarily fit the win profile for conditioner Joe Sharp, but the one-run closer has compiled a 6-2-2-1 mark at the mile, and she also had a nice prep for the event when a clear third in a recent allowance race on the course. The Essential Quality three-year-old owns a win at the venue and has exotics appeal at a price under Jose Ortiz. 

#9 Tam Tam (5-1) is obviously one of the leading choices in the field for Phil Bauer. The talented Medaglia d’Oro filly is a stakes winner with placings in her last two runs on the lawn, and she comes in with a swift half-mile drill as of late. 

Kelsey Danner’s #8 Ground Support (3-1) was excellent as a juvenile that concluded with a clear third in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1) in the fall. The Army Mule filly appears to be training well in preparation for her 2026 unveiling and will be formidable if she runs to her two-year-old form with Adam Beschizza on board.