European Invaders Seek E. P. Taylor Victory

The E. P. Taylor Stakes Presented by HPIBet (Can-IT) at Woodbine Oct. 18 will have plenty of intrigue, as half of the 12-horse field will be making either their first of second career start in North America. The 1 1/4-mile test for fillies and mares 3 and up carries a $500,000 purse.

Based on her experience at Woodbine, Strut the Course seems a logical place to begin. The Ontario-bred has tried the local layout six times, with three wins and a pair of seconds. She comes in having won the Canadian Stakes (Can-IIT) over yielding turf Sept. 13. In July she took the Dance Smartly Stakes (Can-IIT) over eventual Beverly D. (gr. IT) winner Watsdachances. The 5-year-old can stalk or come from well back and has trained well coming up to the Taylor.

Curvy went off the favorite in the Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes (gr. IT) in her first North American start but was a non-threatening fifth after a poor trip over soft ground. In July she placed in the Darley Irish Oaks (Ire-I) after having won the Ribblesdale Stakes (Eng-II), her fourth victory in a row. The 3-year-old by Galileo is a big wildcard here.

Eastern Belle needs to overcome a case of seconditis, as she has finished in the runner-up slot in four straight starts, the past three in graded company at Saratoga Race Course and Belmont Park. She is a stakes winner in her native England. In 11 lifetime starts she has finished out of the money just once, but has also won just once.

Devonshire makes her first North American start here coming off a stakes win in her native Ireland in mid-September. She has been competitive in group company but is also light in the victory department.

Nakuti comes off a group III win in England as she ships across the sea for the first time. She will be making her 26th lifetime start and has four wins and three seconds.

Yaazy has placed twice in French group races and has hit the board in all four of her lifetime starts in France. The 3-year-old faces her elders for the first time and will be shortening up here off a 12-furlong victory Sept. 14.

Glens Falls (gr. IIIT) winner White Rose makes the trip north for trainer Bill Mott. The Tapit   mare won the Dowager Stakes at Keeneland a year ago and will be moving late from mid-pack.

Talmada's sire, dam, and broodmare sire are all Irish-breds, but she was bred in Kentucky and made the first dozen starts of her career in Europe. She carries a victory in an English stakes into the Taylor and prefers to run from a stalking position.

Rosalind won the Sheepshead Bay Stakes (gr. IIT) in May but didn't make an impression in subsequent grade I tests against the likes of Sheer Drama and Wedding Toast. A drop to allowance foes failed to satisfy when she hit the gate last out at Saratoga and came home second.

Button Down checked in second behind Strut the Course in the Canadian last out. She has won over the Woodbine grass but will be tested for class here.

Lacy made her North American debut in the Beverly D. but broke slowly and came home a distant seventh. She has won three stakes in her native Germany.

Uchenna took the Ontario Matron (Can-III) over Woodbine's Polytrack but faltered late in the Canadian to finish fourth. She won an allowance on the Woodbine grass last spring.