Woodbine: Perfect Shirl will skip E.P. Taylor in favor of Breeders’ Cup

Dyna Waltz is the lone American shipper among the fillies and mares entered for Sunday's Grade 1 E.P. Taylor Stakes at Woodbine and the local contingent consists of trainer Miss Keller and Mekong Melody, both trained by Roger Attfield.

Attfield also had been pointing Perfect Shirl for the E.P. Taylor but the 4-year-old will not be participating.

“She just doesn’t handle soft turf,” said Attfield, who conditions Perfect Shirl for owner/breeder Charles Fipke.

The tentative plan calls for Perfect Shirl to proceed directly to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf, a 1 3/8-mile race at Churchill Downs on Nov. 4.

Stormy Lord may try Labeeb

The condition of the turf course was not a factor in trainer Ian Black’s decision to pass on the Canadian International with Stormy Lord.

“He’s perfect,” said trainer Ian Black. “But when everybody showed up, there’s so much depth in the race, and he’s just not good enough.”

Stormy Lord could make his next start here in the Labeeb, a $100,000 overnight stakes scheduled for one mile of turf on Oct. 30.

“The long-term plan is the River City, on his way south,” said Black.

The River City, a 1 1/8-mile turf race which offers Grade 3 status and a purse of $100,000, will be run at Churchill Downs on Nov. 19.

◗ Woodbine’s Jim Bannon will be hosting a one-hour seminar here on Canadian International Day, beginning at 11 a.m. on the third floor of the grandstand.