Full Count Felicia upsets in the E.P. Taylor Stakes (G1)

2024 E.P. Taylor Stakes

Date: 09/14/2024

The $750,000 E.P. Taylor Stakes (G1) for older fillies and mares going 1 1/4 miles on the turf, is traditionally run in October on the Canadian International undercard, but with the cancellation of the International in 2024, the race was moved to the Woodbine Mile undercard as part of Turf Champions Day. Conditions were typical for mid September with sunny skies and a daytime high of 25.2 C (77.4 F) The Taylor course was rated firm.

Originally a field of 6 made final entry but after Cinderella’s Dream was scratched, just 5 went to post with Moira sent off as the 9-10 favorite off her win in the Beverly D Stakes (G2) at Colonial Downs after finishing a close second in the Diana (G1) at Saratoga. In to challenge her included 3-1 second choice Fev Rover, second in both the Nassau (G2) and Beverly D, and 7-2 third choice Blue Rose Cen, winless since the Prix de l’Opera (G1) at Longchamp last October and a close 4th in the Prix Jean Romanet (G2) last out at Deauville.

Full Count Felicia leads down the stretch

Jockey Kazushi Kimura sent 15-2 fourth choice Full Count Felicia to a clear lead through easy fractions of 25.12, 48.19, 1:11.81, and 1:35.19 while as many as 19 lengths in front of Fev Rover, who in turn was 3 lengths clear of Blue Rose Cen and Moira. Turning for home, Full Count Felicia continued to lead by 6 lengths through 9f in 1:46.85, and cruised the rest of the way to win by 3 1/2 lengths over late-running favorite Moira in 1:59.29, just 0.41 seconds off the course record. It was another 2 1/2 lengths back to Fev Rover third.

Pgm  Horse              Jockey            Win   Place  Show
 4   Full Count Felicia Kimura          17.60    5.40  2.50
 2   Moira              Hernandez                2.60  2.10
 3   Fev Rover          Velazquez                      2.20

Winning Time:  1:59.29

$1 Exacta 4-2                16.90
$2 Trifecta 4-2-3            51.20
$2 Superfecta 4-2-3-1       107.50

Left: Full Count Felicia in the winner’s circle. Winning trainer Kevin Attard said, “I thought Fev Rover and Full Count Felicia would, kind of, you know, duke it out a little bit early. She set an honest pace, I thought. And you know, the I looked around at the 3/8, and she had an insurmountable lead, and I’m thinking, ‘Is she gonna stop?’ Like, she’d have to come to a dead walk at this point. But you know, she’s a nice filly. I don’t think she got the respect she deserved. Thought her race in the Canadian last start was really impressive. And I think she’s just improving, just getting better with each start.”

Right: Full Count Felicia gets hosed off after the race.

Left: Full Count Felicia in the paddock before the race. Winning jockey Kazushi Kimura said, “I was trying to let her, you know, try to be how own pace and being comfortable, it worked out well.”

Right: Full Count Felicia heads to the winner’s circle after the race. Asked if she would go to the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf against stablemate Moira, Attard said, “I’m going to leave that (decision) to the guys who sign the checks. They sent her here for me to do a job. We’re going to enjoy this Grade 1. It’s very important for her as a broodmare.”

Left: Second place finisher and beaten favorite Moira returns after the race. The Kevin Attard trainee improved her record to 6 wins, 6 seconds, and 2 thirds in 16 starts, earning $1,956,017 for owners Madaket Stables, SF Racing, and X-Men Racing.

Right: Third place finisher Fev Rover in the paddock before the race. The Mark Casse trainee improved her record to 6 wins, 6 seconds, and 4 thirds in 24 starts, earning $1,475,742 for owner Tracy Farmer.

Fashionably Fab wins the Ontario Matron Stakes (G3)

The $150,000 Ontario Matron Stakes (G3) featured a full field of 14 older fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles over the Tapeta. Selene Stakes (g3) winner Sabatini was sent off as the lukewarm 3-1 favorite off her 7th place finish in the Ontario Colleen Stakes (G3). In to challenge her included 11-2 second choice Solo Album, winner of the Trillium Stakes (G3) and 13-2 third choice Fashionably Fab, 4th in the Canadian Stakes (G2) after finishing a close third in the Trillium.

Jockey Frankie Dettori sent Solo Album to the lead first time by through fractions of 23.62, 48.13, and 1:13.00 while pressed by 13-1 Ro Town and stalked by 7-1 fourth choice Libban. Entering the lane Solo Album tired as Fashionably Fab, 12th early under David Moran, found room between horses on the inside to gain a short lead through 1 mile in 1:37.69. Kept to task by Moran, Fashionably Fab held off late-running 10-1 Elysian Field to win by a length in 1:43.84. It was another 1 3/4 lengths back to 43-1 Blueberry Fields third, while favorite Sabatini sat midpack early but failed to rally finishing 9th beaten 7 1/4 lengths.

Results chart

Left: Fashionably Fab in the winner’s circle. Winning jockey David Moran, replacing his son Pietro who was injured at Fort Erie on Tuesday, said, “I was riding this for Pietro. He was out there with me. He called me before the race, told me exactly how to ride her. So, it was basically him riding the horse. I just steered her around. But she was amazing. She traveled nicely, kicked very strongly to the head of the lane, and you know, Pietro was behind her.”

Right: Fashionably Fab gets hosed off after the race. Winning trainer Kevin Attard said, “First, (owner Terra Racing) gave Pietro an opportunity, when he was a young apprentice, early in his career, to get on her and ride her in the graded stakes (Grade 3 Belle Mahone), and she won. And today, I just thought it was really fitting if we gave Dad a try on this one for Pietro. The filly is just a wonderful filly. And this one’s for you, buddy. Can’t wait to see you back here.”

Left: Second place finisher Elysian Field heads out to the track before the race. The Mark Casse trainee improved her record to 3 wins, 6 seconds, and 0 thirds in 13 starts, earning $599,718 for owners Gary Barber and Team Valor International.

Right: Third place finisher Blueberry Fields returns after the race. She improved her record to 5 wins, 2 seconds, and 3 thirds in 13 starts, earning $23,564 for owner-trainer Brandon Greer.

Left: Ninth place finisher and beaten favorite Sabatini returns after the race. The Josie Carroll trainee has a record of 2 wins, 1 second, and 1 third in 6 starts, earning $139,733 for owners NK Racing and LNJ Foxwoods.

Right: The horses break from the gate for the Ontario Matron Stakes.

Woodbine Mile and Vigil Stakes and Summer and Natalma Stakes also on the card.

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