Jockey John Velazquez guides She Feels Pretty to $750K prize at E.P. Taylor

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She Feels Pretty was last at Woodbine two years ago, winning the Natalma Stakes. Since then, she has become one of the top turf mares in North America. She returned to Toronto on Saturday and bagged another big prize, the $750,000 E.P. Taylor Stakes.

But it was not easy for the four-year-old filly. Ridden by John Velazquez, She Feels Pretty sat a third for the early part of the 1 ¼ mile race, but she was slightly hit by another horse, causing her a brief discomfort. She moved up nicely around the turn and took command in the stretch. Nearly catching her, however, was English invader Diamond Rain, who, despite being slow out of the gate, charged very quickly in the stretch and lost by just a head at the wire.

Trainer Cherie DeVaux decided to bring She Feels Pretty to Woodbine to try and get a guaranteed spot in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf rather than wait for the Flower Bowl at Saratoga on Aug. 30.

“It was a natural progression from the Diana (at Saratoga, where she finished a close second),” she said. “The last couple of weeks, she’s been training so well. It made sense to come here now rather than wait a couple of weeks for the Flower Bowl.”

She Feels Pretty was sent off at 2-5 and is now eight-for-12 lifetime.

CARRYING MOMENTUM: Kevin Attard’s trips to the winner’s circle didn’t end after the King’s Plate as he swept the final two stakes on Woodbine’s lucrative Saturday card.

The veteran trainer sent out Gas Me Up to win the $200,000 King Edward Stakes. Ridden by Flavien Prat, Gas Me Up sat well back early in the one-mile turf race as a speed duel ensued. He had 15 lengths to make up in the final half mile but was able to eat that up quickly, grabbing command in mid-stretch and holding off a closing Wyoming Bill to win by a length. It was the fourth win in eight starts for the five-year-old gelding.

Then in the $150,000 Soaring Free Stakes for two-year-olds, Two Out Hero scored as the 6-5 favourite. Ridden by Rafael Hernandez, Two Out Hero sat right behind pacesetter Casson early in the 6 ½-furlong race. He stayed right at the rail and in the stretch, he found a seam and took command en route to a 1 ½-length win.

Attard indicated Two Out Hero would likely start in the Summer Stakes on Sept. 13, a Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf qualifier.
Hernandez also rode Simcoe to a dominant win in the $150,000 Bold Venture Stakes. Simcoe grabbed command early in the 6 ½-furlong race and held a comfortable margin the rest of the way, winning in the end by five lengths. A five-year-old gelding, Simcoe is now six-for-18 and has won four of his past five for trainer Katerina Vassilieva.

In the $150,000 Catch A Glimpse Stakes for the fillies, Corsia Veloce had a good tracking spot early and grinded her way to an 11-1 score with Fraser Aebly aboard. The daughter of Practical Joke is now two-for-two for trainer Josie Carroll. The race is the main prep for the Natalma Stakes on Sept. 13.

And at Saratoga, trainer Mark Casse enjoyed one of his biggest wins, capturing the $600,000 Alabama Stakes with Nitrogen, who just held off a fast-closing Good Cheer. It was Nitrogen’s fourth stakes win this season.