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Lush Lips Earns Breakthrough Stakes Victory In Tepin
Lush Lips Earns Breakthrough Stakes Victory In Tepin originally appeared on Paulick Report.
Lush Lips bolted clear of her competition in the $250,000 Tepin Stakes on a drizzly day at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., on June 28.
Lush Lips won the grass mile contest for 3-year-old fillies by 3 3/4 lengths in 1:35.98 on the firm turf under jockey Flavien Prat for owners Medallion Racing, Steve Weston, Stewart Hoffman, Mrs. Paul Shanahan and Mrs. M.V. Magnier.
Sent off as the 8-5 post-time favorite, Lush Lips paid $5.24 for the win.
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The Tepin Stakes was the first blacktype victory for the British-bred daughter of Ten Sovereigns. Earlier this spring, she was twice runner-up to the top 3-year-old turf filly in the country Nitrogen in the Grade 2 Edgewood Stakes and G3 Florida Oaks.
After a slight bobble leaving the gate from post 5, Prat was content to rate Lush Lips in midpack. Lush Lips tracked Princess Attitude to her inside in fifth, while the leaders set fractions of :24.13 and 47.96.
Prat kept a tight hold on Lush Lips on the far turn, before unleashing a devastating turn of foot entering the stretch. Longshot leader Ninth Island had opened up a clear lead, but was quickly caught by Lush Lips from the far outside, who drew off for the victory.
Princess Attitude got up for second over Vixen in third. Ninth Island completed the superfecta.
'She has a big kick,' trainer Brendan Walsh told Churchill Downs' Kaitlin Free after the race. 'There was plenty of pace on today which made it a little easier, but [Prat] had a ton of horse turning for home. It was just a question of when he'd let her go.'
The bay filly showed signs of versatility in the Tepin; in her prior two wins she raced on or near the lead. Lush Lips' career record now stands at three wins, three seconds in eight starts.
'Hopefully forward from here,' said Walsh. 'I think she can be a top, top filly moving on.'
This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Jun 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
