E.P. Taylor (1901-1989) was a thoroughbred racing executive, owner and breeder whose influence on the sport extended far beyond his native Canada. His greatest contribution was his homebred Northern Dancer, the 1964 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1) hero who became the greatest stallion of the 20th century.
Northern Dancer, foaled at Taylor's Windfields Farm in Ontario, sired Nijinsky II, who swept the 1970 English Triple Crown before emulating his father as a sire. Sadler's Wells and Danzig were other brilliant sons of Northern Dancer who shaped the breed. Taylor started the dynasty with the mating of The Dancer's parents, Nearctic and the mare Natalma, both of whom he owned.
“Canada's Great Little Horse” will always be a hero north of the border. As Muriel Lennox, his biographer, said: “The thing is, he hasn't died. He still lives, his spirit still lives. His offspring still live ... he's running in them.”
His owner/breeder's honors include founding the Jockey Club of Canada and Woodbine Racetrack as well as membership in Canada's Hall of Fame. Taylor also was inducted in the Racing Museum and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs in 2014 as a Pillar of the Turf. No one ever deserved that honor more.
Every summer the 1 1/4-mile E.P. Taylor Stakes (G1) for fillies and mares is contested over the E.P. Taylor Turf Course at Woodbine. As a Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win & You're In" qualifier, the winner of Saturday's 60th running will earn a spot in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) Nov. 1 at Del Mar. Last year's champion turf female, Moira, won that race there after finishing second in the E.P. Taylor.
This year's heavy favorite, She Feels Pretty, will be a strong candidate for the Eclipse Award for turf female. A tough beat ended her four-race winning streak last time out in the Diana Stakes (G1) at Saratoga. She lost by a head to Excellent Truth on a “good” course that may have compromised the 4-year-old. There's no rain in the weekend forecast for Toronto, so She Feels Pretty will get the ground she prefers. She's 2-for-3 at 1 1/4 miles and a head and a neck away from six consecutive stakes victories, so she'll be very tough.
For those who like to bet on horse racing, here are some observations about the E.P. Taylor (post time 4:14 p.m. ET).
She's 1-for-10 on grass, 0-for-6 in graded stakes and has lost five in a row. She's also never won beyond 1 1/16 miles. In over her head for a trainer who's 0-for-38 this year.
She's 0-for-4 on turf and hasn't been on it since last fall. Doesn't belong in this field.
Godolphin homebred is the wild card with great connections and a 3-for-5 record on grass in Britain. She's 2-for-2 this year, although against weaker fields, and has three victories at 1 1/4 miles or longer. Can't see her winning but belongs in exotics.
The horse to beat is as classy as they come, 7-for-11 lifetime and never out of the money. She's also proven over the course, dominating the Natalma Stakes (G1) last fall in her second career start. Her odds are too short for a win bet, so the recommended plays are exactas with She Feels Pretty on top of Caitlinhergrtness ($20 investment) and Diamond Rain (for $10).
Quality filly beat males last year in the $1 million, 10-furlong King's Plate on Woodbine's synthetic track. Distance isn't the issue, but she's only 1-for-3 on grass. Positives: The field's best frontrunner is training well and picks up the brilliant Prat, who upset She Feels Pretty in the Diana. If he can set moderate fractions, she could be in the mix in midstretch.
Uncoupled stablemate of fellow longshot Literate is the better horse. (Civaci is named on both, so chances are Literate won't run.) Hurricane Clair is 2-for-5 on Woodbine turf, including a 10-furlong victory in a $250,000 stakes last year. Still, she's up against it in her graded-stakes debut.
Strong closer is in career form with a win and a second in Grade 2 grass stakes in her last two. Was 2-for-10 overall before that. Just won at 1 1/8 miles but never tried 1 1/4, so she might find that extra furlong too taxing in Woodbine's long stretch.
