In a division often defined by flashes of raw speed and fleeting glimpses of promise, Tessellate has been the filly who keeps turning up, keeps fighting, and keeps knocking on the door. On Saturday, she’ll step onto her home track once more, chasing the stakes breakthrough that has eluded her — and she’ll do it in the spotlight of the Juvenile Fillies Sprint, the race she has been pointed toward for weeks.
For connections who have watched her rise from a sharp debut winner to a consistent stakes performer, this is the afternoon they hope everything finally clicks.
Tessellate Heads Competitive Juvenile Fillies Sprint
The Juvenile Fillies Sprint, the headliner on Gulfstream Park’s 11-race Saturday program, will be run over 6 ½ furlongs and features a mix of proven stakes talent and eye-catching maiden winners. First post is 12:20 p.m.
Magic Cap Stables, Paul Braverman, Timothy Pinch, Castle Gate Farm, Kuehne Racing and John Reinhardt’s Tessellate brings perhaps the most battle-tested résumé. Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., she shortens up in distance after finishing third behind Willow Case in the one-mile Hallandale Beach on Sept. 26, a race where she pressed the pace before fading late.
Before that, the McKinzie filly ran second in the six-furlong Sharp Susan on Aug. 9 over a sloppy track — another strong run behind the divisional leader Willow Case.
“Last time we stretched her out. We didn’t think she wanted to go that far, but we wanted to give it a try,” Joseph said. “The cutback should help her a lot. This is the logical spot.”
Tessellate, a front-running debut winner in July, drew Post 2 and reunites with Edgard Zayas as the 5-2 second choice.
“She’s fast, but she doesn’t need the lead,” Joseph added. “She can sit and make a run. I think she goes in there with a very good chance.”
La Dolce Vita, Epigram Bring Upside and Momentum
Joseph also saddles La Dolce Vita, the 2-1 program favorite from the rail. The Peachtree Stable homebred broke her maiden in style on Oct. 24 after two unsuccessful turf tries.
“She won well last time,” Joseph said. “She’s coming back a little quick, but if she runs her race she should be a big factor.”
La Dolce Vita was heavily backed in all three of her starts and has yet to run a bad race. She also exits two starts against strong company, including her Kentucky Downs effort.
Stablemate Mystical Belle was cross-entered and is expected to scratch in favor of an allowance spot on Sunday.
Dakota’s Little Auror, Make Your Wish and Lady Chance All Step Up
Oliver Gray’s Dakota’s Little Auror, the only other runner with stakes experience, has proven she belongs with the group. She was third in the Sharp Susan and fourth in the Hallandale Beach.
Make Your Wish (Post 6) brings sentimental interest for the connections of Willow Case, while Lady Chance arrives off a confidence-boosting maiden score after three consistent efforts.
Epigram A Major Threat After Explosive Debut
One of the loudest buzz horses in the field is Jose Castro’s Epigram, who won her debut by a staggering 9 ¾ lengths on Aug. 15 — and Castro has been patient since.
“She’s doing good. She had a good race last time, exactly like we hoped,” Castro said. “She’s very, very happy.”
Epigram’s pedigree adds intrigue: she’s by multimillionaire and Grade 1 winner Code of Honor, whose first major success came in the 2019 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream. Castro purchased her for just $38,000, choosing her on conformation and presence.
“She’s still a baby, so we have to go little by little,” he added. “Right now she’s ready.”
Nour Rounds Out Field
Sultan Racing’s Nour (Post 3), second in an optional claimer on Oct. 25, also enters with credentials. She finished ahead of both Willow Case and Dakota’s Lil Auror in that race and seems to be trending upward.
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