Siyouma brilliant in E. P. Taylor Stakes

European shipper Siyouma showcased a powerful turn of foot in the Woodbine homestretch to win the $1,000,000 E. P. Taylor Stakes (Can-I) last Sunday by nearly two lengths.

With Gerald Mosse aboard, Siyouma broke well and was taken back to race in fifth during the early stages of the ten-furlong turf race, 2 1/2 lengths behind pace-setting Kapitale. Stars to Shine, Vamo a Galupiar, and Pagera were also close to the pace, while Trois Lunes, Barefoot Lady, Dream Peace, Kissable, and Princess Highway were in mid-pack and no more than about five lengths off the lead, while All Star Heart, Moment of Majesty, and Havant were the trailers.

Through moderate fractions of :25.83, :50.53, 1:14.93, and 1:39.20, Kapitale led the way, but entering the homestretch she began to tire and soon retreated to finish twelfth. Pagera was poised to take advantage of the situation, and would have if Siyouma had not blown past her with an explosive run to seize command of the lead. From there, the race was over, as Siyouma coasted home to win by 1 3/4 lengths in 2:03.04 seconds over a course labeled good.

Pagera held well to finish second by a neck over Dream Peace, who rallied well to be second at the eighth pole before flattening out just a bit. Kissable, Havant, Barefoot Lady, Moment of Majesty, All Star Heart, Stars to Shine, Princess Highway, Trois Lunes, Kapitale, and Vamo a Galupiar completed the order of finish.

The winner is a four-year-old daughter of Medicean out of the Danehill mare Sichilla. She is trained by Francois Doumen and owned by Robert Jeffcock.

-Keelerman

Woodbine Super Sunday Analysis

Later this afternoon, Woodbine will play host to a trio of prestigious grade I turf races, including the $1.5 million Pattison Canadian International. There are a ton of interesting horses entered, so let's start handicapping!

Nearctic Stakes (gr. I)

The morning line favorite is the local hero Big Band Sound, who won the Play the King Stakes (gr. II) two starts back in brilliant fashion over the Woodbine turf. Overall, he's been very consistent this year, winning or placing in six of his eight starts, but six furlongs may be a tad short for him.

If that is the case, than look for Fire Lily to take advantage of the situation. A very talented Irish-bred three-year-old filly, she finished second in a pair of group I races as a juvenile and has been very competitive in group III races this year. In fact, three starts back, she beat subsequent Prix de la Foret (Fr-I) winner and Betfred Sprint Cup (Eng-I) runner-up Gordon Lord Byron by a half-length in the Patrick O'Leary Memorial Phoenix Sprint (Ire-III). Given this record, one has to like her chances later this afternoon, although the fact that she has drawn post eleven is a serious concern.

The other European shipper, Night Carnation, is also mildly intriguing, but the filly has not won a stakes race of any kind since taking the group III Coral Charge Sprint Stakes in July 2011. With John Velazquez in the saddle, you can't count her out, but she probably isn't quite as good as Fire Lily.

Bear Tough Tiger has won two of his last three starts in excellent fashion, but is taking a sizable step up in class and will have to overcome breaking from the rail. But at least that is better than drawing gate eleven. I envision him showing speed from the start, setting the pace, and hopefully holding off the closers late.

Selection: Bear Tough Tiger

E.P. Taylor Stakes (gr. I)

It's hard to look past morning line favorite Siyouma, for the Irish-bred filly is coming off of a strong victory in the Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes (Eng-I) over the very talented Elusive Kate. True, that race was only a mile, but her form at ten furlongs is decent enough to suggest that her class can help her successfully stretch out in distance.

Her main competition will probably come from Dream Peace, who has placed in both the Diana Stakes (gr. I) and Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes (gr. I) this summer. She is coming back a bit quick off of her last effort -- with just two weeks rest -- but ten furlongs should be just about perfect for her, and the long Woodbine homestretch should help her late rally.

Barefoot Lady won the Canadian Stakes (gr. II) here at Woodbine in good fashion last month, but is facing tougher today and will have to step up. The same goes for the other European shippers -- Pagera, Trois Lunes, Princess Highway, and Havant -- most of which have shown good form in lower level group races and could contend with career-best efforts.

Selection: Siyouma

Pattison Canadian International (gr. I)

Going over the past performances, it's hard to look past the European shippers, led by morning line favorite Imperial Monarch. From the powerful barn of Aidan O'Brien, the three-year-old colt has won three of his four starts, including the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris (Fr-I). He's proven at this distance and over soft turf, but he hasn't run since mid-July. Will he be fit enough to defeat a field of this caliber off of such a lengthy layoff?

If he's not quite up to the challenge, than Reliable Man can pull off a mild upset. Trained by Alain De Royer-Dupre, the talented colt has not won a race in over a year, but he has been running against some of the best horses in Europe, including Danedream, Nathaniel, St. Nicholas Abbey, So You Think, Farhh, Golden Lilac, and Cirrus des Aigles. And given how he has held his own against many of this, one has to view him as a serious contender for the win. Plus, he will have the services of top jockey Olivier Peslier.

Joshua Tree won this race two years ago and finished a strong second last year, signaling that he is quite found of the Woodbine course. Last time out, he finished a strong third to subsequent Arc de Triomphe runner-up Orfevre in the Qatar Prix Foy (Fr-II), proving that he has retained his good form. Frankie Dettori has the mount.

Wigmore Hall has won the Northern Dancer Stakes (gr. I) here at Woodbine two years in a row, but has never been better than a group II/III type in Europe, so beating the likes of Reliable Man and Imperial Monarch could be difficult. However, like Joshua Tree, he has shown an affinity for the course, so counting him out could prove a mistake.

Air Support looks like the best of the North American hopefuls, as he can unleash a strong late kick on occasion and has run well at the grade I level, but the turf course may turn up a bit soft for him today. A good pace to run at would greatly help his chances, but time will tell if he gets one.

Let me also take a moment to mention Prince Will I Am, winner of the grade I Jamaica Handicap in 2010. His last two efforts haven't been particularly noteworthy, but he does seem to be rounding back into his 2010 form, and twelve furlongs on turf seems to suit him well. Perhaps the long Woodbine homestretch will help him rally for a piece.

Selection: Reliable Man

-Keelerman

European shipper Barefoot Lady wins Canadian Stakes

Barefoot Lady, a two-time stakes winner making her first start outside of Europe, rallied strongly in the long Woodbine homestretch to win the $300,000 Canadian Stakes (Can-II) in decisive fashion.

The daughter of Footstepsinthesand was ridden to victory by David Moran, who gave the four-year-old mare an excellent ground-saving trip while tracking the pace in the fourth position. The early leaders were Laughing and Stars to Shine, who set slow fractions of :24.61 and :48.59 seconds. Smart Sting was on the outside in third, with the eventual winner racing to her inside. All Star Heart and Kapitale were in mid-pack, while Moment of Majesty, Shimmering Moment, and Indian Pond were the early trailers.

As the field made their way around the final turn, Barefoot Lady shifted to the outside to commence a three-wide bid for the lead as Laughing gave way. This left Stars to Shine as the leader, and she briefly opened up a clear advantage, but Barefoot Lady was moving too strongly to be denied, taking over the lead prior to the eighth pole and continuing on strongly to win the about nine-furlong turf race in 1:45.89 seconds.

All Star Heart finished well in deep stretch to edge out Stars to Shine for the place, while Kapitale, Indian Pond, Smart Sting, Moment of Majesty, Laughing, and Shimmering Moment completed the order of finish.

Barefoot Lady is trained by Richard Fahey and owned by Mrs. H. Steel. Out of the Tenby mare Lady Angharad, Barefoot Lady has now compiled a record of 5-2-3 from 19 starts and has earned $454,855.

-Keelerman

Canadian Stakes Entries and Post Positions

Here are the entries and post positions for the $300,000 Canadian Stakes (Can-II), to be run on Sunday at Woodbine. The nine-furlong turf race has drawn an excellent field of nine fillies and mares, including 2011 Las Palmas Stakes (gr. II) winner All Star Heart and Taylor Made Matchmaker Stakes (gr. III) winner Laughing.

1 Moment of Majesty
2 Laughing
3 Stars to Shine
4 Barefoot Lady
5 All Star Heart
6 Shimmering Moment
7 Smart Sting
8 Indian Pond
9 Kapitale

-Keelerman