Race Selections: EP Taylor Stakes (August 16, 2025)
Headline: Exciting Finish at Woodbine as She Feels Pretty Wins the E.P. Taylor Stakes
The 2025 E.P. Taylor Stakes at Woodbine Racetrack saw a thrilling finish on August 16, with She Feels Pretty narrowly defeating Diamond Rain in a photo finish.
The E.P. Taylor Stakes
The top picks for the E.P. Taylor Stakes were She Feels Pretty, Diamond Rain, and Ready for Shirl. She Feels Pretty, with odds of 3-5, lived up to expectations and secured her fifth Grade 1 victory. Diamond Rain, with odds of 6-1, put up a valiant effort, finishing just a head behind the winner in her North American debut. Ready for Shirl, at 7-2 odds, finished a clear third.
She Feels Pretty, with a record of 11 starts: 7 wins, 2 seconds, 2 thirds, and earnings of $1.88 million, is known for her stalking style and powerful late kick, which suits Woodbine's turf course and the 1¼-mile distance.
Diamond Rain, trained by Charlie Appleby for the Godolphin stable and ridden by William Buick, was making an important step up to North American Grade 1 turf competition. Her strong European form and turf pedigree made her a serious threat and a logical choice for exotic wagering.
Ready for Shirl, at 7-2 odds, represented peak domestic form and finished third, a significant margin behind the top two.
The pace scenario was expected to be moderate, potentially favoring horses with a strong late burst like She Feels Pretty, which played out in the race outcome. The race offered a CAD $750,000 purse and a “Win and You’re In” berth for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, adding to its importance for connections.
Other Races
The top pick for Race 4 is Lunch With Bernie with odds of 10-1. In Race 3, the contenders include Ironstone (15-1), Uphill Dance (9-2), and Niagara Skyline (5-2). The top pick for Race 3 is Society's Thunder with odds of 3-1.
In Race 1, the major players include Will Win (3-1), Will Reign (6-1), Buium (6-1), and Court (10-1). The top pick for Race 1 is Thundermaker with odds of 5-2.
The longshot play of the day is I'm a Gambler in Race 8, with odds of 8-1. In Race 10, Simcoe (2-1) and Lucky Score (12-1) are major players, while Cruden Bay (5-2) is the top pick, thanks to a great meet by the trainer.
In Race 6, Just Magnificent (7-2), Madame Obey (3-1), Ontario (2-1), and Scat Girl (8-1) are major players. In Race 2, Aint No Girly Girl (8-1) and Piper's Gift (8-1) are contenders, along with Top of D Mountain (3-1) and Crumlin Trouble (12-1).
In Race 9, the top picks include She Feels Pretty (3-5), Ready for Shirl (7-2), Sedbury's Ghost (6-1), Manetti (10-1), and Notorious Gangster (9-2). The race also features No Time (7-2) and I'm a Gambler (8-1).
The race day offered an exciting lineup of events, with She Feels Pretty's victory in the E.P. Taylor Stakes being the highlight. The remaining races provided a variety of contenders and longshots, offering plenty of opportunities for exciting finishes and potential payouts.
Following the E.P. Taylor Stakes, the attention now shifts to other races:
In Race 9, the top picks include She Feels Pretty, Ready for Shirl, and Sedbury's Ghost, all of whom have shown strong performances in sports, with She Feels Pretty excelling in horse-racing.
Just Magnificent, Madame Obey, Ontario, and Scat Girl are major players in Race 6, with some showing a stalking style reminiscent of She Feels Pretty, while others possess a powerful late kick like those seen in racing events.
){kind=link}