Holy Helena Takes On Tough E. P. Taylor Field

Stronach Stables' homebred Holy Helena has been hit or miss since finishing next to last in the 2017 Alabama Stakes (G1) on dirt. She came back in 2018 with three straight wins on the turf—her preferred surface—but then lost six consecutive stakes until her score in Gulfstream Park's The Very One Stakes (G3T) in March.

Now the 5-year-old daughter of Ghostzapper  seeks her first grade 1 win in the CA$600,000 E. P. Taylor Stakes (G1T) on the Woodbine turf Oct. 12 against an evenly matched field of nine other fillies and mares.

Racing on the Pattison Canadian International Day undercard, the field contesting the 1 1/4-mile contest is truly international and includes foreign invaders Red Tea, third in the Aug. 18 Darley Prix Jean Romanet (G1) last time out; Durance, who was third in the Henkel-Preis der Diana (German Oaks, G1) Aug. 4; Imperial Charm, who was third in the Saxon Warrior Coolmore Prix Saint Alary (G1) in May and third last out at ParisLongchamp; and Platane, who last raced in Deauville in the Shadwell Prix de la Nonette (G2).

Fourth in the Sept. 14 Canadian Stakes Presented by the Japan Racing Association (G2T), Holy Helena has won twice since her season debut in January, including the June 29 Dance Smartly Stakes (G2T) on the same course and over the same distance as the E. P. Taylor. An eight-time winner from 19 starts, Holy Helena counts the 2017 Queen's Plate Stakes, two editions of The Very One Stakes, and the Sheepshead Bay Stakes (G2T) among her victories.

The James Jerkens trainee will be ridden by Woodbine-based jockey Rafael Hernandez.

"I think the extra distance will suit her well," Hernandez said. "Her works are awesome, as usual."

Blue Heaven Farm's Starship Jubilee, trained by Kevin Attard, arrives at the E. P. Taylor off a repeat score in the Canadian.

Under Luis Contreras, the consistent 6-year-old daughter of Indy Wind pulled away to a 4 1/4-length score in the 1 1/8-mile Canadian and pushed her record to 13-4-3 from 30 starts.

"She has been a wonderful mare," said Attard, who also trains Pattison Canadian International Stakes (G1T) contender Pumpkin Rumble. "She gives it her all each time you lead her over to the post. She's not a big horse, but she has the heart of a lion. It's been a real privilege to train her."

A. A. Azula's Arch gives Attard another shot at E. P. Taylor glory.

Trainer Graham Motion is represented by Secret Message, a 4-year-old daughter of Hat Trick, and Si Que Es Buena, a 6-year-old daughter of Equal Stripes who hails from Argentina and joined the Motion barn late last year after racing in her native country.

Secret Message endured a pair of troubled trips in her past two starts, both at Saratoga Race Course. She was fourth in the July 13 Diana Stakes (G1T) and eighth in the Aug. 24 Woodford Reserve Ballston Spa Stakes (G2T).

"I don't think she had the ideal trip in the Diana," Motion said. "I thought with maybe a little better trip she might have hit the board in what's obviously one of the better grade 1s of the year. She wasn't that far behind those horses. And last time, again, she didn't get the best of trips. We know she likes (Woodbine), she ran very well there. I don't think the distance is an issue. If anything, it might help her, I like to think."

Before those performances, Secret Message reeled off consecutive wins, including a victory in the May 26 Nassau Stakes (G2T) at Woodbine.

Si Que Es Buena has won her past two starts at Gulfstream, including the Jan. 26 La Prevoyante Stakes (G3T), where she defeated Holy Helena among other E. P. Taylor entrants.

"We were getting quite excited about her in the spring," Motion said. "She was a little sore after that last race, and we decided to give her a break. I do like to have these mares around for the big races in the fall. It's important to have them fresh for the fall for these nice races. She hasn't done much wrong, really. Even when she ran in the (grade 3) Long Island (fourth, in November at Aqueduct), it was a pretty respectable effort. She gets a little wound up, but she's pretty straightforward, really."

Motion understands it's a tall task off an extended layoff but believes the Haras Abolengo-bred bay will put in another strong showing Saturday.

"This has very much been our plan with Si Que Es Buena. I shouldn't jinx myself, but I can't believe we're kind of getting her there because when you say in the spring that you're going to point her to the E. P. Taylor, it's a pretty lofty thing to say. But she's kind of had an uninterrupted schedule to get back here, which is great."     

Juddmonte Farms' homebred Gaining, a 5-year-old daughter of American Post, won a group 3 race in November at Toulouse. Gaining, who was moved to the barn of Brad Cox in April, has placed in four stakes in North America since.

The E. P. Taylor serves as the final leg of Woodbine's new Ladies of the Lawn Series, which offers CA$75,000 in bonuses to the top performers based on points accumulated in the designated graded turf routes for fillies and mares. The series includes the Nassau Stakes, the Dance Smartly, and the Canadian Stakes.

Starship Jubilee (24 points), Holy Helena (13), and Secret Message (10) occupy the first three spots in the standings.

By virtue of her lead—the winner of each designated race receives 10 points—Starship Jubilee's connections are the recipients of the $50,000 first-place bonus.

Sheikha Reika, ridden by Andrea Atzeni, won last year's edition of the E. P. Taylor in a time of 2:05.10.