OLDSMAR, FL – It was as if Tessellate’s performance in the 6 furlong Gasparilla Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on Jan. 10, 2026, was a work of art, a mosaic, where all of the pieces seemed to fit together, despite an awkward beginning, which saw her bobble and bump Love Like Lucy, demonstrating her resiliency under the confident handling of jockey Edgard Zayas, who guided her with patient precision resulting in a polished outcome, driving clear to win by 2 ¾ lengths.
The Florida-bred bay filly, who has never run out of the money in her five starts, was sent off as the favorite in the six-horse field in the 42nd running of the $125,000 Gasparilla Stakes.
Conditioned by Saffie Joseph Jr., who purchased the horse at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $170,000 from the consignment of Paramount Sales. Tessellate is campaigned by the partnership of Magic Cap Stable, Paul Braverman, Timothy Pinch, Castle Gate Farm, LLC, who bred the horse, Bag Racing Stables, John Reinhardt, and Turf Express Racing, Inc.
Tessellate raced wide early, but Zayas’s patience would pay dividends as the filly collared the lead from the early pace setter Gerrards Cross, en route to winning her sophomore campaign debut.
“The race set up perfect like I wanted,” said Zayas. “The outside filly had a lot of speed and the other filly for Saffie had a lot of speed. It worked perfect they went in really fast fractions. I sat like four lengths off the pace, and asked her, they came back, and she responded very nicely.”
Tessellate won her previous start, the 6 ½ furlong Juvenile Filly Sprint at Gulfstream Park on Nov. 15. Zayas who has ridden the filly in her last three starts has been impressed with her evolution.
“I think she’s maturing really good,” said Zayas. “We’ve been expecting so much out of her, and race-by-race she’s maturing and getting better and better and that’s what’s really important.”
Legion’s Racing’s Drexel Hill was the overwhelming race favorite, being sent off at 2-5, and the 4-year-old left no doubt in anyone’s mind, by winning the 42nd running of the $125,000 Wayward Lass Stakes in convincing fashion.
D. Whitworth Beckman trains Drexel Hill, who picked up her second stakes win, with her effort Saturday, winning the 1 1/16 miles contest easily, scoring a 1 ¾-length victory, under jockey Ben Curtis.
Drexel Hill’s first stakes victory came on March 25, 2025, at Aqueduct in the Busher Invitational, following that effort with a runner-up finish in the Kentucky Oaks (Gr.1). However, the filly would have a respite, returning five months later in the Mother Goose Stakes on Nov. 8, 2025.
“She’s always been a very nice horse,” said Kristian Villante, Legion Racing manager and Legion Bloodstock manager. “She kind of mentally can check out sometimes, you saw that in the Busher, she was kind of checking out, and he got her to rebreak and go again. The same thing last time, she was a victim of pace in New York when she ran. She was almost that way again today here. She always shows up when we need her. She’s been a really cool honest filly the whole time.”
It was the fourth time Curtis has partnered with Drexel Hill, having piloted the dark bay filly in both her stakes victories. He seems to fit the daughter of Bolt D’Oro well.
“He gets along great with her,” said Villante. “He was supposed to ride her up in New York (in the Mother Goose), but he ended up getting hurt on one of our other horses the same day. But he knows her better than anybody. He knew today he would have to put her in the race a little earlier and he did it, and he said she handled it very easily today.”
Drexel Hill had settled off the pace and would eventually commandeer the lead from Runaway Diva at the top of the stretch, taking command en route to the victory.
“I was expecting it to be more speed, to be honest with you,” said Curtis. “We were walking when we came around the back and I inched a bit closer, and I felt I had to go up and join them and put a little bit of pressure on. I wanted to cover the move if anyone was able to quicken. We know that Drexel is a solid stayer, she’ll stay further. I wanted to have that move covered. Runaway Diva went to pick up at the quarter pole, I already had Drexel fully engaged and in top; we had to cover that. We hit the front plenty soon. She doesn’t do a lot when she gets there. She’s a bit of a professional. She’ll get you there, and she thinks that the job is done. I had to keep her up to her work, but I sat up on her at the wire and her gallop out was massive.”
Legion Bloodstock purchased Drexel Hill at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $50,000 from the consignment of Warrendale Sales. It was Curtis’ first mount at Tampa Bay Downs. He also won with his first mount at Lone Star Park. Curtis has been impressed with Drexel Hill’s progress and development.
”She’s definitely developed into herself,” said Curtis. “She relaxes a lot better now. She was third to Simply Joking (another Beckman trained horse) at the Fair Grounds (Fasig-Tipton Silverbulletday Stakes), and she was real aggressive that day, and now she’s got into a lovely, relaxed rhythm. You could see her there; her ears are always flicking backwards and forwards. Mentally she’s matured, but if you see her, she’s filled out, very much behind, she hasn’t grown massively, but she’s filled into that frame she always had. She’s a bigger, stronger mare to go forward. I think I’ll have a lot of fun with her this year. When you find one that tries as hard as she does, they’re going to bring success. “
Curtis was the leading jockey at Colonial Downs in 2024 and 2025 by number of wins, and has an affinity for the track in New Kent, Va.
“I love Colonial Downs, my family loves going there it’s like a holiday for them,” said Curtis. “If I don’t go, it’ll bring tears to the kids eyes. I love it up there. Hopefully, we’ll be back.”
