BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Niche tries for her first added-money victory after finishing second last time in her stakes debut and Tessellate looks to return to her winning form when the two Florida-bred fillies line up for the Grade 2 Charles Town Oaks at Charles Town Races Friday night. Nine 3-year-old fillies will vie for the winner’s share of the $750,000 purse in the seven-furlong Charles Town Oaks, won in 2024 by Florida-bred Mystic Lake and in 2010 by Florida-bred Dewin’s Star.
Niche and Tessallate would also earn a $5,000 Export Incentive for their respective breeders with an out-of-state victory at this level. Capped at $1 million for 2026, the Export Incentive program is administered by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.
Owned by Red White and Blue Racing, Niche won for the first time in her fifth start, but just her second on dirt, in a six-furlong maiden special weight at Laurel Park in April. The new confidence propelled her to a three-length score in her next out, a first condition, $100,000 optional claiming going six-and-a-half furlongs at the Belmont at Big A meet on May 16.
Trainer Rob Atras then shipped her to Presque Isle Downs for her stakes debut where she finished second to Quiet Street in the $100,000 Lady Erie run over six furlongs on synthetic.
Niche has earned $105,360 in her seven career starts with two wins and a second. Red White and Blue purchased her through bloodstock agent Marshall Taylor at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale where she was consigned by Francis and Barbara Vanlangendonck’s Summerfield. Summerfield bred Niche in partnership with Etarip Stables.
By Yaupon out of Stormbeforethecalm, by Quiet American, Niche breaks from post three with jockey Dylan Davis. She is 8-1 on the morning line.
Tessellate is a three-time stakes winner, having earned her first black-type victory in a 13-length romp last year in the $75,000 Juvenile Fillies Sprint at Gulfstream Park in November.
Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. then brought her back in January at Tampa Bay Downs where she took the $120,000 Gasparilla by nearly three lengths racing seven furlongs. She was off the board in the Grade 3 Forward Gal at Gulfstream on January 31 but came back to win the $98,000 Stonehedge Farm South Sophomore Fillies versus Florida-breds at Tampa Bay Downs on March 29. She performed better in her second race against graded stakes fillies on May 15 as a runner-up to Peach Tie in the Grade 3 Miss Preakness at Laurel. However, in her last race, she tired to finish seventh in the Grade 3 Victory Ride at Saratoga on July 10.
A $170,000 selection by Joseph at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Tessellate has earned $263,860 in a nine-race career that has four wins, two seconds and a third. She is by McKinzie out of Shotdowninflames, by Trappe Shot and was bred in Florida by Tim and Crystal O’Donohue’s Castle Gate Farm in Ocala. Castle Gate retains part ownership with Magic Cap Stables, Paul Braverman, Timothy Pinch, BAG Racing Stables, Jonathan Reinhardt and Thoroughbred Acquisition Group.
Tessellate is 10-1 on the morning line and will have Paco Lopez in the irons when she starts from post one.
Rounding out the field are Tahlequah with jockey Tyler Gaffalione, Sonny Leon has the call on Irish Jig, Luv Your Neighbor will have Luis Saez up, Pearl of Pearl will be ridden by Fredy Peltroche, Little Miss Curlin will be guided by Jareth Loveberry, Now or Nevermore teams up with jockey Mitchell Murrill and At a Premium has Jeiron Barbosa taking the riding chores.
Return to the August 26 issue of Wire to Wire
