Sunday Best: Laurelin Gives Motion Another Stakes Win At Aqueduct This Weekend

[Wandering Eyes]

After taking home the Central Park Stakes trophy with Jack and Jim (Slumber {GB}) at the Big A on Saturday, trainer Graham Motion made it back to the winner's circle when Laurelin (Ire) (Zarak {Fr}) got up in time to take the Tepin Stakes on Sunday.

The chestnut broke her maiden for the Maryland-based conditioner by 1 1/2 lengths over the same grass course Oct. 13, but that was not enough to install her as the favorite in the bettor's minds. As a 4-1 shot here, the filly settled mid-pack into the first turn, but remained under a snug hold up the backstretch. Ready to pounce on the pacesetter around the far turn, the juvenile took aim at new leader Five G (Vekoma) at the sixteenth marker and under confident handling she got up in the shadow of the wire to earn her first black-type.

“I felt very good about this filly. I wasn't as sure about the colt yesterday [Jack and Jim] just because it was a big step up, but this filly just trained so well,” said trainer Graham Motion. “She's a real pro.

“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,” said Motion. “I think she can have a big year next year. There's so many nice races for these 3-year-olds on the grass, and to have one for each division would be a dream. It's exciting.”

The winner's dam produced a colt by Space Blues (Ire) last year, which is her last reported registered foal. She was not bred for 2025. Bari counts as a half-sister English stakes placed La Spezia (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), who is the dam of English group stakes winner Thomas Hobson (GB) (Halling).

TEPIN S., $135,000, Aqueduct, 11-17, 2yo, f, 1mT, 1:36.85, fm.
1–LAURELIN (IRE), 120, f, 2, by Zarak (Fr)
                1st Dam: Bari (Ire), by Cape Cross (Ire)
                2nd Dam: Genoa (GB), by Zafonic
                3rd Dam: Yawl (GB), by Rainbow Quest
(€160,000 Ylg '23 GOFOR). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Newstead Stables LLC; B-M. H. Dixon & Mount Coote Estates (IRE); T-H. Graham Motion; J-Kendrick Carmouche. $74,250. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $123,750.
2–Five G, 120, f, 2, Vekoma–Triumphant, by Quality Road. 1ST BLACK TYPE. O/B-Gatsas Stable LLC (NY); T-George Weaver. $27,000.
3–Presha, 120, f, 2, Omaha Beach–Humor Me Dixie, by Distorted Humor. ($40,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP; $390,000 2yo '24 OBSAPR). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Woodford Thoroughbreds LLC; B-Frank Garrison & NATO et al (KY); T-William Walden. $16,200.
Margins: HF, NK, 1HF. Odds: 4.40, 9.20, 13.70.
Also Ran: Reining Flowers, Isle of Capri, Pookie, Roshiell My Belle, She's All Charm. Scratched: Annie Goodbody, Good Conduct, Good Long Cry, Miriam's Fire (GB), She's Our Tiz.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

.@KendrickCarmou1 closed out the 2023 turf season with a win and now closes out the 2024 turf season with a win in the Tepin Stakes aboard LAURELIN for @GrahamMotion! pic.twitter.com/OF3PYgO5fX

— NYRA () (@TheNYRA) November 17, 2024

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