Taylor Stakes – Grade I
WO Race #6 1 1/4m Turf Stake
Purse $750.000 For Fillies And Mares Three Years Old And Upward.

1st Stellar Agent Night Rider Stables Leparoux J R

Whereas in a big field, leading the pack can be an advantage in these six horse fields we often see the horse in the third group come over the top of the leading group and that is how it played out today. Who would’ve though that a winner of just three races and one grade three could topple the great La Terrifiant the winner of 19 and countless grade ones but one thing we know about horse racing and HRP is that results don’t always go the way you expect and that was certainly the case here. Slowly away she quickly recovered to tag on to the chasing group and in these six horse fields that can often be the best place to be. With a quarter mile to run it still looked tough for her but she produced a determined finish and took them close home. This was a much improved effort from the daughter of Manhunt and comes on the back of teh trainer mentioning they were having a tough time finding a winner, well this will be just the shot in the arm they wanted!
It is tough to know whether this was a huge improvement and she can build on it or whether it was just the circumstances of a six horse field but her last four starts have signaled a definite trip up her improvement curve so she may just be a surprise package last in the season.

2nd La Terrifiant Smokey Stover Wilson E J

We have seen that she can be just a bit vulnerable when leading too early although i must admit i was surprised to see her caught. This may just be the tune up she needed for the BC and a 14 horse field and the pressure of the big day may just bring out the best of her. It is very hard to run up any sort of sequence these days so i wouldn’t read too much into this defeat.

3rd Breakfast In America Nakamura Stables Gallardo A A

Who would’ve though that the first three year old home would be this one! Stalking the lead she kept on really well but it is hard to weigh up exactly what this run means. Beaten in her last three in cheap optional claimers this was a huge step up in class and one that will have many handicappers scratching their head that she could get within a half length of one of the best horses in recent HRP history. As i mentioned in the preview though this trainer doesn’t enter horses to run last and she has clearly been showing something at home.

4th Mon Dieu Mo Mentum Farm Moran D

Fourth home she beat Stellar Agent in the Canadian last time so it was a big surprise to see her use the completely opposite running style today going from front runner to closer. It could of course just been the spinny legs slow start that changed her running style, who knows, because these days we see such big changes in form from race to race it is hard to come up with reasons for horses running so differently.

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES