American invader ROUGIR won the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor Stakes by a neck over Canadian-bred star MOIRA on October 8 at Woodbine but the race was messy enough that the result was unofficial for some time after both the winner and runner-up had troubled trips.

On a cool and windy day, over a turf course that was very much on the ‘giving’ side, the nine-horse field for the Taylor, for 3-year-olds and up fillies and mares, began awkwardly as Lemista (Ire) bore out at the start and interfered with German shipper Mylady and the Mark Casse trainee Fev Rover. Once the field entered the long backstretch run, it was Adventuring, riding a two-race win streak, who went to the front as Lemista (IRE) and Mylady (GER) picked up the chase in second and third, respectively. Rougir (FR), with Kazushi Kimura in the irons, settled into seventh of nine through an opening quarter timed in :26.78, while Queen’s Plate and Woodbine Oaks winner Moira, the even-money choice, sat sixth.

Adventuring held a 1 ½-length lead at the half, reached in :51.39, as Mylady (GER) and Lemista (IRE) continued to apply pressure on the frontrunner. Rougir (FR), running comfortably in seventh, was then steadied at the nine-sixteenths, causing her to get knocked off stride and seemingly out of it as the field entered the turn for home.

While Rougir (FR) looked to get back into the race, Moira was guided to the rail and began to take aim at new leader Flirting Bridge. Unfortunately, the quick move by Moira to the rail caused Lemita to check sharply.

Midway down the lane, Rougir (FR) had recovered with a powerful late rally while Moira surged up along the rail. But Moira was deemed guilty of causing interference on Lemistra and was later disqualified from second to eighth,  elevating Flirting Bridge (IRE) into second, Fev Rover (IRE) to third, and Adventuring into fourth.

The final time over firm ground was 2:02.62.

“I had been struggling because [on the last turn] the inside horses were moving up so fast, I almost clipped heels, had to pick a pathway,” said Kimura. “So, when she comes from the corner it was tremendous, I was trying so hard. I was so confident, but those horses already had experience from the long stretch.”

It was the sixth win, along with one second and three thirds, from 19 starts for Rougir (FR), bred by Jan Krauze and owned by Peter Brant and Michael Tabor. It was also the first win since a three-length triumph in the Grade 3 Beaugay on May 14 at Belmont.

After competing in France, Rougir (FR), a daughter of Territories (IRE)-Summer Moon (FR), started the North American leg of her racing career last November, with stops at Del Mar, Belmont, Saratoga, and Churchill.

Rougir (FR) paid $12.60, $6.20 and $4.10, combining with Flirting Bridge (IRE) ($8.40, $5.10) for a $103.70 exactor. The triactor with Fev Rover (IRE) ($5.20) returned $559.30 exactor. A $1 superfecta with Adventuring came back $1,893.60.

The E.P. Taylor also was the final leg of Woodbine’s “Ladies of the Lawn,” a three-race turf stakes series for fillies and mares consisting of the Dance Smartly, Canadian and E.P. Taylor.

Fev Rover (IRE), second in the Dance Smartly, winner of the Canadian, and third in the E.P. Taylor, finished with 22 points for the Ladies of the Lawn bonus prize of $50,000. Points were awarded on a 10-7-5-3-2 basis for the top five finishers in each stakes race, with one point earmarked for other also rans.

 

 

 

 

Tags: Chad Brown, E.P. Taylor Stakes, Kazushi Kimura, Moira, Peter Brant, Rougir,

More from Canadian Thoroughbred: