Etoile holds on for win in E.P. Taylor

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — The classy French-bred Etoile made the most of a lovely stalking trip under Rafael Hernandez to capture the Grade 1, $630,000 E.P. Taylor over the local longshot Court Return at Woodbine on Sunday.

Etoile ($7) saved ground in third on the backstretch in the 1 1/4-mile turf fixture, while another 5-2 shot, Theodora B., led with Elizabeth Way in close proximity.

Etoile joined Theodora B. up front entering the stretch. Etoile assumed command at the three-sixteenths pole before opening up a clear lead and then holding on for a neck score, in a time of 2:03.12.

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Court Return hugged the rail on the backstretch before rallying wide to finish a clear second under Daisuke Fukumoto. Secret Message finished another two lengths back in third. She was followed by the slight 5-2 favorite, Rideforthecause, Theodora B., Pretty Point, and Elizabeth Way.

Based in New York with Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown, Etoile was a Group 3 winner in France last year while also finishing a close fourth in the Group 1 French Oaks. She was coming off a second to Theodora B. in the Grade 2 Dance Smartly here Aug. 15.

“I called Chad this morning, and he hold me, ‘Raffie, try to get a good trip like last time. Just make sure you’re clear down the stretch’, ” Hernandez said.

“He told me he’d been working her outside of horses a few times, and she finished great. Turning for home, I put her outside, and the horse did her job.”

A well-bred daughter of Siyouni, Etoile banked $360,000 for the partnership of Peter Brant, Mrs. M.V. Magnier, and Mrs. Paul Shanahan.