Friday, October 03, 2008

E.P. Taylor & Nearctic Previews

TORONTO, October 2 * Regardless of how Sealy Hill, Canada's 2007 Horse of the Year, fares in Saturday's Grade 1, $1 million E.P. Taylor Stakes, it will be her final career start at Woodbine.

But it may not necessarily be her last outing, according to conditioner Mark Casse.

"If she runs a big race, we're looking at taking her to the Breeders' Cup (Filly and Mare Turf, October 24 at Santa Anita in California). But if she doesn't, this is going to be her last start. We're just hoping the real Sealy Hill shows up."


Like last year, when the Eugene Melnyk homebred daughter of Point Given won four of her eight starts, including the Canadian Triple Tiara, and almost took down the E.P. Taylor, missing by just a half-length to favoured Mrs. Lindsay, after getting in front in deep stretch. In all, she earned $958,389 and was voted top three-year-old filly, top turf filly and Horse of the Year honours in Canada.

On last year's E.P. Taylor, Casse said, "She did (get in front) and we felt like she just pulled herself up that day, which is just one of her many tactics."

Nine fillies and mares will go postward Saturday at 5:16 p.m. (live on The Score in HD) in this year's renewal of the E.P. Taylor, over one and one-quarter miles of turf. The Todd Pletcher-trained J'ray, winner of the Canadian here last month over yielding turf, is the lukewarm 5-2 favourite, while Sealy Hill is pegged as an 8-1 fourth choice in the morning line.

Four-year-old Sealy Hill, now a career earner of over $1.2 million, finished a fading fourth to J'ray, almost six lengths in arrears, in the Canadian on September 7, after making a bold run at the leaders in mid-stretch.

"(Jockey) Patrick (Husbands) thought he was sitting on a winner, but he said as she moved to the lead, she was more concerned with running over the competition than actually running by them. We're making some changes (for the E.P. Taylor). We're going to put full cup blinkers on her, so she can't see the competition at all. She's had blinkers before but not full cup. And we're going to run her in a different type of bit. Then, it's going to be up to Patrick."

Overall, she's only won one of her five 2008 starts, four of which have been on the lawn. But she also hooked the imposing, undefeated mare Zenyatta, in the Vanity Handicap at Hollywood Park, finishing fifth on its synthetic surface.

Regarding Saturday's race, Casse added, "I've looked at it (field). Obviously, there's some tough horses in there, but when you run for a $1 million in a Grade 1, it's supposed to be tough. It definitely wouldn't shock me for her to win. I feel like it's been great (training her throughout her career) but it's time for her to go on to a new career. I'll miss her but she deserves to call it a day."

$1 million E.P. Taylor Stakes, 53rd edition, for fillies and mares, one mile and one-quarter, E.P. Taylor Turf Course, Post time 5:16 pm, Saturday, October 4; all fillies/mares carry 123 pounds

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