Saturday’s E.P. Taylor Stakes (G1) headlines the afternoon card at Woodbine’s Turf Festival. The premier race for fillies and mares unfolds over 1 ¼ miles on the newly renovated E.P. Taylor turf course, which recently reopened following extensive improvements.
This event serves as a Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win, and You’re In” qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) at Keeneland on October 31.
History and notable winners
Originally inaugurated in 1956 as the Nettie Handicap, the race was renamed in 1981 to honor Edward Plunket Taylor, the former president of the Ontario Jockey Club, founder of Windfields Farm, and the breeder of Northern Dancer. Contested at 1 ¼ miles on turf since 1968, it has evolved into a prestigious Grade 1 event recognized globally for its elite quality and intense competition.
Strong Field, both Foreign and Domestic
The 2026 edition boasts a cosmopolitan lineup, heavily populated by European imports and American-shipped contenders, save for one local horse.
Diamond Rain (7-5), the Godolphin/Appleby/Buick entry, stands out as the most decorated shipper in the field. She previously finished second to She Feels Pretty in last year’s E.P. Taylor and placed third in the BC Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar.
In 2026, she returned with a third in the Middleton Stakes (G2) at York behind See The Fire, a head second in the Hoppings Stakes (G3) at Newcastle, and a listed victory at York in July. A tactical mid-pack runner with the stamina for 10–11 furlongs, Diamond Rain knows this course intimately. Repeating her 2025 form would make her a formidable favorite.
South African champion Gimme a Nother (5-2) draws the rail under jockey John Velazquez for trainer Graham Motion. The 6-year-old was unbeaten in seven starts in her homeland before her recent relocation. Her North American resume includes victories in the John C. Mabee (G2) at Del Mar in 2025, the Eatontown Stakes (G3) at Monmouth by 3 ½ lengths in June, and the Beverly D Stakes (G2) at Colonial Downs by a neck on August 1. A versatile stalker-presser with a strong closing kick, she also holds a near-miss at Woodbine, finishing second in the 2025 Canadian Stakes. The inside draw and Velazquez are distinct advantages if she can secure a clear path.
Britain-bred See The Fire (7-2), partnered with jockey Robert Hornby by trainer Andrew Balding, is a The Stars mare who captured the Middleton Stakes (G2) at York twice and was narrowly beaten in last year’s Prix de l’Opéra (G1) before an underwhelming ninth in the Breeders’ Cup. After winning her first two 2026 starts in front-running fashion, she finished sixth in the Prince of Wales’s (G1) at Royal Ascot and third in the Nassau at Goodwood. A frontrunner who dictates pace, See The Fire could set the tempo, though her wide draw presents a tactical challenge if she expends energy early.
Achieve (10-1), trained by Mark Casse and ridden by Javier Castellano, is a Justify filly who recently finished a neck second to Gimme a Nother in the Beverly D. After six starts dating back to 2024 to finally break her maiden, she has been exceptional, adding two allowance wins and the aforementioned Colonial Downs placings to her record. With the ability to stretch out comfortably, she is expected to race mid-pack or just behind the leaders before unleashing a determined run down the stretch.
Ireland-bred Jancis (12-1), a 5-year-old Tamayuz mare trained by Willie McCreery and ridden by Hector Isaac Berrios, won the Dahlia Stakes (G2) at Newmarket in May after stalking a fast pace. She followed that with a fifth in the Lanwades Stud Stakes (G2) at the Curragh and a second in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot. While her fifth-place finish in the Falmouth Stakes (G1) was uninspiring, the competition may have been the culprit. Most of her best performances have come at a mile to 9 furlongs, making the extra ground a potential concern. She typically settles mid-pack and possesses a late kick on good-to-firm going.
Somethinabouther (12-1), trained by Brendan Walsh and ridden by Junior Alvarado, is a 4-year-old Mendelssohn filly who captured the Mazarine Stakes (G3) as a 2-year-old and has been knocking on the door this year with third-place finishes in allowances at Keeneland and Churchill Downs.
A genuine closer, she will require an honest pace and a clear trip from mid-pack. Facing a significant class rise, watch the tote board for a strong exotic play if you believe in her chances to hit the board.
Venetian Lace (15-1), trained by Charlie Johnston and ridden by Jamie Spencer, is the sole 3-year-old in the field. The Ireland-bred daughter of Masar finished third in the 1000 Guineas (G1) at 33-1 but was last in both the Oaks and the Falmouth. Her connections believe stepping back to 10 furlongs on this big galloping track will play to her strengths, though her recent form gives pause. She will likely race off the pace and make her move late, where Spencer’s patient riding style could prove beneficial if the race deteriorates in the stretch.
Sultana Odds: Local Choice Longshot is 20-1
The local hope, Sultana (20-1) for Kevin Attard and Umberto Rispoli, is a multiple graded-stakes winner aiming for her first Grade 1. She captured the Maple Leaf Stakes (G3) last November and the Orchid Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream in March over 1 ½ miles. During the summer, the Always Dreaming mare placed third in the Nassau Stakes (G2) at a mile and fourth in the Niagara Stakes at 1 ⅜ miles on the inner turf. Attard, a former winner of this race with Starship Jubilee and Full Count Felicia, notes that she hasn’t shown her best in those recent starts and needs pace to run at. A deep closer who loves Woodbine’s long stretch, Attard hopes for early fractions to set the stage for her late burst.
“I don’t think we’ve seen the best of her in her past two starts, but that said, the last race in particular, she put in a good late run and had something left in the tank,” Attard said. “She loves some pace to run at, and she loves this distance, so the hope is there are some good early fractions set, and she finds herself in a position to use that long stretch run to take off with a late burst.”
The Picks: 1 Diamond Rain, 2 Gimme a Nother, 3 See the Fire
The Field for the $750,000 E.P. Taylor Stakes (G1), from the rail out, with jockey, trainer, odds:
2026 E.P. Taylor Stakes Odds
| # | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gimme a Nother (SAF) | John Velazquez | Graham Motion | 5-2 |
| 2 | Achieve | Javier Castellano | Mark Casse | 10-1 |
| 3 | Jancis (IRE) | Hector Isaac Berrios | Willie McCreery | 12-1 |
| 4 | Diamond Rain (GB) | William Buick | Charlie Appleby | 7-5 |
| 5 | Somethinabouther | Junior Alvarado | Brendan Walsh | 12-1 |
| 6 | Venetian Lace (IRE) | Jamie Spencer | Charlie Johnston | 15-1 |
| 7 | Sultana | Umberto Rispoli | Kevin Attard | 20-1 |
| 8 | See The Fire (GB) | Robert Hornby | Andrew Balding | 7-2 |
Last Updated on 09/10/2026