After placing in her first two stakes attempts, MCKINZIE juvenile filly Tessellate scored her first stakes win when romping in Saturday’s Juvenile Fillies Sprint S. at Gulfstream Park.
The Saffie Joseph Jr. trainee made the 6 ½ furlong dirt sprint her coming out party in a big way late on the card. Tracking the leaders early after she was crowded at the start, Tessellate stalked the leaders going into the turn before Edgard Zayas let her loose as they entered the final quarter.
She had the lead soon after they entered the stretch and there was no chance of catching her. Having seven lengths on the field going into the final furlong, Tessellate widened that lead to 13 lengths at the line even after being geared down.
TESSELLATE ($5.40) and @zayas_edgardo by a mile in the $75,000 Juvenile Fillies Sprint Stakes at @GulfstreamPark. @SaffieJosephJr trains the two-year-old daughter of Mckinzie (@Gainesway).
Jump on the final 2: https://t.co/pkv1V82mL2 pic.twitter.com/PuAFDzAfJC
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) November 15, 2025
A $170,000 yearling purchase from Paramount Sales last year, the Castle Gate Farm-bred is raced by her breeder alongside Magic Cap Stables, Paul Braverman, Timothy Pinch, Kuehne Racing, and John Reindardt. She has treated them well with two wins and two other top three placings in four starts.
Tessellate is one of two winners from three to race out of the winning Trappe Shot mare Shotdowninflames. That mare is a half-sister to Grade 3 winner Luna Time and three other winners out of multiple stakes winner High Moment.
Each of Tessellate’s first six dams have either placed in stakes or produced stakes winners with nearly every one doing both. The group is led by Grade 2 winner and Grade 1-placed Sir Whimsey.
Shotdowninflames foaled a filly brother to Tessellate this season.
This is the eighth stakes winner of the year for MCKINIZE, who leads all second crop sires by number of Grade 1 winners and Grade 1 horses in 2025.