Sultana will try to earn her first Grade 1 victory when she faces seven rivals in the E.P. Taylor Stakes at Woodbine on September 12.
The $750,000 race is run over 1 1/4 miles on the E.P. Taylor turf course and is part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series. The winner earns an automatic berth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Keeneland on October 31.
Sultana seeks a first Grade 1 win
Trained by Kevin Attard, Sultana enters the race as a multiple graded stakes winner. Her recent campaign includes a third in the Nassau Stakes and a fourth in the Niagara at Woodbine.
The E.P. Taylor gives her a chance to step forward against a deeper international group over a longer turf distance.
International depth shapes the field
Woodbine lists Gimme a Nother, Diamond Rain and Jancis among the seven rivals facing Sultana. Their presence gives the race the international profile that has long defined one of Canada’s most important events for fillies and mares.
The combination of local form and overseas form also makes the race relevant beyond the immediate result. A strong performance can influence the North American turf picture heading toward the Breeders’ Cup.
Part of a major Woodbine Saturday
The E.P. Taylor is one of four Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Challenge races on Turf Champions Day. The program also includes the Woodbine Mile, Natalma Stakes and Summer Stakes.
The Woodbine Mile preview covers defending champion Notable Speech and six race winner Deterministic, who headline another major turf test on the same card.
What to watch
The key question is whether Sultana can turn consistent graded stakes form into a Grade 1 breakthrough against rivals with different racing backgrounds. The 1 1/4 mile distance should also help clarify which runners are best positioned for longer championship turf races later in the season.
OTB Bet will wait for official results before publishing a recap. For broader championship coverage, visit the Major Races hub and the Horse Racing News page.
Featured image: Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, photographed by Alan Spencer. Source image available through Wikimedia Commons under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0.
