Woodbine: E. P. Taylor Stakes Exacta Wagers

A total of nine fillies and mares will run 1 1/4 miles on the Woodbine turf in Saturday’s $750,000 E. P. Taylor S. (G1). The well-matched field features a serious cast of distaffers, including Queen’s Plate S. heroine #3 Moira (3-1) from the barn of Kevin Attard. As much as I respect the talents of the standout sophomore, her lack of turf experience has me leaning in another direction for the top prize.

#9 Fev Rover (6-1) has done well in her first pair of starts in North America for conditioner Mark Casse, highlighted by a brave tally in the recent Canadian S. (G2) on the surface. Purchased for $975,000 in the winter, the daughter of Gutaifan has the running style and pedigree to thrive at 1 1/4 miles, and her tactical speed will allow her to get first run at the top of the lane in this affair, as well.

The Irish-bred four-year-old comes in fresh off the short absence and shows a trio of very good morning drills in anticipation of this race. Patrick Husbands will guide the filly who will key my exacta wagers.

Group 3 vixen #8 Mylady (8-1) is the wildcard in the cast coming off of a third-place result in the German Oaks (G1) at Dusseldorf in her latest assignment. The Grey Gatsby sophomore has raced on five occasions this campaign and will be fit for her local debut, and she wouldn’t be a major surprise for trainer Markus Klug. If she takes substantial early money, then I will have a lot of confidence in the three-year-old.

Moira has been awesome in her last pair of outings and can’t be ignored, obviously. The Ghostzapper filly still has considerable room for improvement with just a handful of performances under her belt, and she is bred for the green so it’s more than possible that she will thrive on the surface change. The Ontario-bred bay has fired bullet morning moves in two of her last three works, and she looms large if she puts in her top effort with Rafael Hernandez in the stirrups once again.

E. P. Taylor Exacta Wagers

• $25 exacta: 9 with 8 ($25)
• $12 exacta: 9 with 3 ($12)