Rougir gets up in final strides of E.P. Taylor; Moira disqualified for interference

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The classy French import Rougir narrowly won the roughly-run Grade 1 E.P. Taylor on Saturday at Woodbine, in which the favored Queen’s Plate winner Moira was disqualified from a valiant second-place finish for interference.

In her first start with Lasix, the New York-based Rougir bided her time about four lengths off the lead at the rear of the peloton under Kazushi Kimura.

Adventuring set moderate fractions in the 1 1/4-mile event while the German 3-year-old Mylady stalked in second, with Moira racing in midpack between rivals.

Rougir appeared to lose all chance when she dropped back while steadied heading into the far turn.

Moira had a wall of horses in front of her early in the stretch, and Rafael Hernandez angled her to the rail into the path of Lemista at the three-sixteenths pole.

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Moira rallied inside through the final furlong and caught the leading Flirting Bridge late as Rougir came rolling on the outside to prevail by a neck, in a time of 2:02.62 over the firm turf.

Following a stewards’ inquiry as an objection from Luis Contreras on Lemista, Moira was disqualified to eighth. Flirting Bridge was promoted to second, and Fev Rover was awarded third money.

Rougir was the fourth winner on the card for Kimura, Woodbine’s leading rider. He said he had to grab Rougir to avoid possibly going down.

“The inside horse moved out so sharply,” Kimura said. “That’s why I had to take a hold – I almost clipped heels. I was so confident to ride a European horse because they already have experience from the long stretch. Those horses can run good here at Woodbine.”

Rougir ($12.60) gave trainer Chad Brown his second E.P. Taylor triumph following Etoile in 2020. Victorious in the Group 1 Prix de l’Opera last year at Longchamp, Rougir earned $450,000 of the $751,900 purse for the partnership of Peter Brant and Michael Tabor.

* Firing Bullets ($15.60) edged out another Mark Casse-trained runner, Fearless Angel, and the favored No Kay Never to graduate in the $150,900 Woodbine Cares Stakes for 2-year-old fillies. Kimura rode Firing Bullets for owner Gary Barber.

In Saturday’s other five-furlong turf stakes for 2-year-olds, the $152,100 Ontario Racing, Bushido ($5.40) led all the way in a 2 3/4-length win under Antonio Gallardo. Trained by Darwin Banach, Bushido is owned by the Bushido Syndicate.

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