BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Tessellate, a winner of two of three starts this year and three of her last four—all in stakes—heads to Laurel Park for the Grade 3 Miss Preakness Stakes Friday. The Florida-bred daughter of McKinzie faces seven other 3-year-old fillies going six furlongs in the $150,000 Miss Preakness.
Tessellate also shoots for a $5,000 Export Incentive that would be paid to breeders Tim and Crystal O’Donohue’s Castle Gate Farm in Ocala, Florida by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association for the out-of-state victory at this level.
Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., Tessellate won her first career start by two lengths against state-bred maiden special weight fillies at Gulfstream in July then was second behind fellow Florida-bred Willow Case in the $75,000 Sharp Susan going six furlongs in the slop in August. She was next third in the one-mile, $75,000 Hallandale Beach, again won by Willow Case, at Gulfstream in September then blossomed in her last start as a 2-year-old, romping home a 13-length winner in the $75,000 Juvenile Fillies Sprint at six-and-a-half furlongs at Gulfstream Park on November 15.
Joseph started her sophomore year at Tampa Bay Downs on January 10 with a nearly three-length win in the $75,000 Gasparilla going seven furlongs then tried the Road to the Longines Kentucky Oaks in the seven-furlong Forward Gal (Grade 3) at Gulfstream Park on January 31. Tessellate was sixth of eight, the only time in her career she has finished out of the top three.
“She was stuck on the inside that day and that was when the inside at Gulfstream was [difficult],” Joseph said. “She made a brief run at the quarter pole and looked like she was going to have a chance and then she just hit the wall. The inside at that point was very biased. You didn’t want to be on the inside, but we didn’t have much choice where we were drawn and the way the race was unfolding. I feel like it was actually a better performance than it looked.”
Tessellate rebounded strong last out, however, dominating Florida-breds by four-and-a-half-lengths in the $98,000 Stonehedge Farm South Sophomore Fillies at Tampa Bay Downs on March 29.
“She’s a good horse,” Joseph said. “I feel like she’s a come-from-behind sprinter and I actually think six [furlongs] is going to be better for her than seven because she has tactical speed and she doesn’t need the lead. I think this is a good spot for her and hopefully she can pick up a graded win. It would be nice to get a graded win on her resume.”
An earner of $235,510 for owners Magic Cap Stables, Paul Braverman, Timothy Pinch, Castle Gate Farm, BAG Racing Stables, John Reinhadt and Turf Express Racing, Tessellate is out of Shotdowninflames, by Trappe Shot.
She was a $170,000 purchased by Joseph at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale where she was consigned by Paramount Sales.
Irad Ortiz Jr., who rode her for the first time in the Sophomore Fillies Sprint, remains aboard for the Miss Preakness and they will depart post five.
Jospeh also saddles Late Night Text, a length-and-three-quarters winner of a seven-furlong maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park on April 23 in her sixth start.
By Into Mischief out of the Curln mare Arrifana, Late Night Texas is owned by Daugherty Racing and 24th Road Racing and will be ridden by Tyler Gaffalione from post six.
Joseph goes for his second Miss Preakness victory, having won the 2024 edition with Florida-bred Mystic Lake. First carded in 1986, the Miss Preakness has also been won by Florida-breds R Holiday Mood in 2011, Vesta in 2002 and Nic’s Halo in 1996.
Also entered are Little Miss Curlin, a two-and-three-quarter-lengths winner of a first condition, $150,000 optional claiming at Oaklawn Park in her last start for trainer Steve Asmussen.
Little Miss Curlin has the inside post one and will be ridden by Jose Ortiz.
Rounding out the field are Peach Tie and jockey Sheldon Russell, Lights Out Lani with Luis Saez named to ride, Gettling Close with Jose Lezcano up and Victory Music with Flavien Prat taking the call.
Return to the May 12 issue of Wire to Wire
