Sealy Hill not quite able to upset Mrs. Lindsay

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Mrs. Lindsay was an expected winner of Sunday's $1 million E.P. Taylor Stakes here at Woodbine, but the margin of victory was unexpectedly close.

Invading from France for trainer Francois Rohaut, Mrs. Lindsay was the only Group 1 or Grade 1 winner in the E.P. Taylor, a 1 1/4-mile turf race for fillies and mares.

And she remained so despite a huge effort by locally based Sealy Hill, who swept to the front to open a clear lead in midstretch before yielding to the relentless Mrs. Lindsay by a half-length.

"I thought she was in trouble," admitted Rohaut. "But she's so courageous. She gave her best. She tried hard."

Mrs. Lindsay, a 3-year-old, will be returning to France, and the current plan calls for her to race again next season.

The E.P. Taylor was bittersweet for Sealy Hill's connections, as she just failed to last under regular rider Patrick Husbands.

"I was amazed how easily she ran by Mrs. Lindsay," said Mark Casse, who trains Sealy Hill for owner-breeder Eugene Melynyk. "I think she pulled herself up a little bit, which she's done in the past. With her, you don't know whether she's going to go left or right. Every race is an adventure.

"But, she proved she could run with anybody in the world. I couldn't be prouder of her."

Sealy Hill, a 3-year-old who has started eight times this season, soon will head down to Melynk's Winding Oaks Farm in Florida to prepare for next year.

"Her long-term goal next year will be the Breeders' Cup," said Casse.

Four Sins fails to fire

Four Sins weakened to finish eighth as the other European invader in the 10-horse E.P. Taylor lineup.

"I was a little disappointed," said Jim O'Neill, traveling assistant to trainer John Oxx. "She was a little bit one-paced. She seemed to be traveling well but she didn't pick up in the straight."

Four Sins, a 3-year-old, will be returning to Ireland where a decision on her racing future will be determined.

No more racing for a couple

Woodbine-based The Niagara Queen and Sans Souci Island ran above expectations in finishing fourth and fifth in the E.P. Taylor.

The Niagara Queen, a 4-year-old owned by Bridle Path Stable and Tommy Roberts and trained by Mike Doyle, will be selling at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky's breeding stock sale early next month.

"She finished on a high note," said Doyle.

Sans Souci Island, a 3-year-old owned by Bill Graham and trained by Roger Attfield, was making just the sixth start of her career.

"She ran a good race," said Attfield. "She'll be a really nice 4-year-old."

Essential Edge, who set the pace through the opening mile before finishing sixth, and Elle Runaway, a non-factor in finishing 10th, both are headed to the breeding shed.

Essential Edge, a 4-year-old, will join the broodmare ranks of her owner and breeder Chiefswood Stable.

"That was her last race," said trainer Eric Coatrieux, who trains Essential Edge. "She's worth so much money as a broodmare. She's probably going to be bred to A.P. Indy."

Essential Edge, an Ontario-bred 4-year-old who won the Grade 2 Canadian in her start prior to the E.P. Taylor, heads to the breeding shed with four wins and earnings of $462,415.

Elle Runaway, a Kentucky-bred 5-year-old, will be retiring at the end of the season.

"Whether that was her last race or not, I'm not sure," said Malcolm Pierce, who trains Elle Runaway for Live Oak Plantation. "A decision on that will be made in the next couple of weeks."