Moira Nonetheless Chasing Grade 1 Win, Again for E. P. Taylor

It is troublesome to fathom how Moira  hasn’t but gained a grade 1 race. The good mare, topped Canada’s Horse of the 12 months in 2022 after dominating male rivals by seven lengths in that yr’s Queen’s Plate Stakes, returned at 4 to seize the 2023 Canadian Stakes (G2T) and run wonderful thirds within the E. P. Taylor Stakes (G1T) and Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T), the place she completed better of the North American horses behind Europeans Inspiral  and Heat Coronary heart .

Lining up for the third straight yr, Moira is again for vengeance within the Sept. 14 E. P. Taylor at Woodbine, recent off profitable the Aug. 11 Beverly D. Stakes (G2T) at Colonial Downs. The Beverly D., through which she ran down fellow Sovereign Horse of the 12 months Fev Rover , was the Ghostzapper   daughter’s second begin of the yr following a prolonged respite. She made her 5-year-old debut in a stacked area of top-level turf mares within the July 13 Diana Stakes (G1T), practically catching the victorious Whitebeam  in a belated rally.

Owned by the partnership of X-Males Racing, Madaket Stables, and SF Racing, Moira has been made the 7-5 morning-line selection in a brief area of six older fillies and mares. Though the sphere is small, the 1 1/4-mile check will take a breakthrough efficiency and tactical experience from Rafael Hernandez to be able to safe the mare’s first grade 1 victory.  

Tracy Farmer’s Fev Rover will intention to repeat an identical run from final yr’s E. P. Taylor, the place she strolled by means of a comfortable early tempo and obtained the soar on the closers for a 2 1/4-length tally. The Mark Casse trainee displayed analogous techniques within the Beverly D., overwhelmed only a neck by Moira below the wire after controlling the tempo.

John Velazquez has the decision on Fev Rover in her title protection.

Fev Rover could have firm on the entrance finish, nonetheless, within the type of Moira’s stablemate Full Rely Felicia . The daughter of Struggle Entrance   just lately took Woodbine‘s Canadian Stakes (G2T) in front-running vogue for Gold Sq..

European invaders, who’ve historically carried out properly within the E. P. Taylor, ought to mount a substantial problem to the native runners. Of the three Europeans, which embody a number of group 1 winner Blue Rose Cen and up to date group 3 victress Blush , it’s Godolphin’s Cinderella’s Dream  who poses the largest menace to Moira and the house crew.  

One among two 3-year-olds within the E. P. Taylor, she carries 4 kilos lower than her older rivals with 120 kilos. Almost undefeated, barring a loss within the British One Thousand Guineas (G1), the Shamardal filly was distinctive in her two stateside efforts, demonstrating an electrifying flip of foot in capturing the Belmont (G1T) and Saratoga (G2T) Oaks Invitational Stakes. She lowered the Saratoga Race Course observe report for 1 3/16 miles on the turf in her Belmont Oaks triumph.

The E. P. Taylor will probably be Cinderella’s Dream’s first check towards older fillies and mares, however coach Charlie Appleby feels she is greater than as much as the duty.

“Her first grade 1 win within the Belmont Oaks was spectacular because it was a top quality area,” mentioned Appleby. “(Cinderella’s Dream) is a simple filly and relaxes properly in her races. We’ve been very completely satisfied along with her preparation, and she or he comes right here with confidence having gained her final two begins.”

Undercard Stakes

Along with the 4 grade 1 turf occasions on Saturday’s card, the Vigil Stakes (G3) and Ontario Matron Stakes (G3) are staged on the Woodbine fundamental observe.

An oversubscribed area of 14 older fillies and mares sq. off within the 1 1/16-mile Ontario Matron, which contains a rematch between graded stakes-winning Woodbine locals Solo Album  and Fashionably Discover. Elysian Area , the 2023 Woodbine Oaks winner, can also be within the area as one in every of three fillies entered for coach Mark Casse.

The even-money morning-line favourite within the Vigil Stakes is the Robert Tiller-trained Patches O’Houlihan , a gate-to-wire winner of his final two begins over the Woodbine oval. Patches O’Houlihan has solely misplaced as soon as in his final 9 begins and boasts graded stakes wins in final yr’s Vigil Stakes and back-to-back runnings of the Daring Enterprise Stakes (G3) in 2023-24.