Vixen and Lush Lips (GB), two accomplished fillies who have traded blows in their recent starts, are set to renew their rivalry and likely vie for favoritism in this year’s edition of the $250,000 Tepin Stakes at Churchill Downs.
Both fillies have consistently demonstrated top form against similar competition, with Vixen entering the race off a victory and a second-place finish in her last two graded stakes starts and Lush Lips (GB) coming off a second-place finish in the Grade 2 Edgewood Stakes.
The one-mile turf event, the Tepin, has attracted a field of eight three-year-old fillies and is scheduled as the eighth race on the card, with a post time of 4:25 PM ET. The purse for the race is $250,000, which includes a $50,000 Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund bonus.
Spot On The Field
1) Fixin to Bee (8-1) has been a consistent performer, with a win and several in-the-money finishes in her recent starts. Her last victory came at Keeneland in October 2024, and she has since competed in several stakes races, finishing fourth in the Ginger Brew Stakes and sixth in the Golden Rod Stakes. She has a win at this distance on turf and has shown the ability to close from off the pace. A minor drawback could be her last start in May 2025 where she finished 4th after stalking the pace.
2) Something Stronger (10-1) is coming into the race off a maiden win at Churchill Downs in May 2025, where she closed from off the pace to win by a head. She has a record of one win and two seconds from three starts in her 2025 campaign, with her lone win coming on the turf. Her win came at the five-furlong distance, so the mile distance will be a question mark for her.
3) Love You Anyway (5-1) broke her maiden impressively in April 2025 at Keeneland, winning by 2 3/4 lengths. She has shown the ability to close from off the pace, and her win was at a similar distance on the turf. She is cross-entered in a race at Penn National on June 27, 2025, so her participation in this race is not guaranteed.
4) Princess Attitude (10-1) has been running well against stakes competition, finishing third in the Hilltop Stakes at Pimlico in May 2025. She broke her maiden at Keeneland in April 2025 and has a record of one win, two seconds, and a third from six career starts. She has shown she can press the pace and has experience at this distance on the turf, with three starts at this distance and one win, one second, and a third-place finish.
5) Lush Lips (GB) (9-5) is a prominent contender coming off a strong runner-up finish in the Grade 2 Edgewood Stakes at Churchill Downs on May 2, 2025. She also finished a close second in the Grade 3 Florida Oaks at Tampa Bay Downs in March 2025. She has shown a versatile running style, leading or pressing the pace in her last few starts which could come in handy here.
6) Vixen (2-1) is a formidable opponent, with a second and third-place finish in her last two graded stakes races. She won the Grade 3 Herecomesthebride Stakes at Gulfstream Park in March 2025 and finished second in the Grade 2 Appalachian Stakes at Keeneland in April 2025. She has a close-to-the-front running style and has demonstrated the ability to hold off competitors in the stretch. She has a strong record on turf at this distance, with five starts, two wins, 2 seconds, and a third. She has career earnings of $510,361 from eight starts.
7) Ninth Island (15-1) is entering the race with a two-race winning streak, both coming in allowance company at Lone Star Park and Houston. She has shown a front-running style, leading from start to finish in her recent victories. Her last start in May 2025 was her first start on turf, and she won. While her form is good, this is a significant step up in class to a listed stakes race, and she has never run a mile on turf.
8) Favor to You (10-1) comes into this race off two consecutive wins in allowance and maiden special weight company at Santa Anita. She has shown the ability to close from off the pace and has two wins from four career starts. However, her wins came at six furlongs, and she has yet to be tested at a mile. She will need to stretch out to a mile for the first time.
Spot On Picks
Win: (6) Vixen (2-1) – Has the best resume in the field with a win and two second-place finishes in graded stakes races. Her close-to-the-front running style should put her in a great position to control the race, and she has proven she can handle this distance.
Place: (5) Lush Lips (GB) (9-5) – Finished second to the top filly in the division, Nitrogen, in the Edgewood Stakes and has shown a strong will to win. She is a perfect fit for the mile turf distance, and she will be right there at the wire.
Show: (4) Princess Attitude (10-1) – Has been in good form in her recent starts, with a win and a third in her last two. Her stalking running style will suit the pace of the race, and she has shown she can handle this distance on the turf.
Wildcard: (7) Ninth Island (15-1) – She has been on a two-race win streak, both on turf. She has never run a mile on the turf before, but if she can handle the distance, her front-running style could make her a threat if the favorites falter.
Longshot: (1) Fixin to Bee (8-1) – She has a win at this distance on turf and has been facing good company. She’s coming off a decent run, but if she can return to her maiden-breaking form from October 2024, she can be a factor.
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