With two former imports and one fresh one, Chad Brown holds a strong hand in Saturday's GI E.P. Taylor S. at Woodbine as the reigning champion trainer seeks an elusive first win in the prestigious event for turf distaffers.
Brown has the first two choices on the morning line, with Coolmore and Madaket Stables' Santa Monica (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) getting narrow top billing. Debuting in North America with a facile allowance score Apr. 18 at Keeneland, the bay was a narrow third next out in the GII Sheepshead Bay S. May 5 at Belmont before earning a local success in the GII Dance Smartly S. June 30. She was last seen running second as the favorite in the GII Glens Falls S. Sept. 1 at Saratoga.
Morning-line second preference Elysea's World (Ire) (Champs Elysees {GB}) seeks her third straight graded stakes triumph. Second in the GII Canadian S. here last fall, the gray kicked off her 2018 campaign with a score in the GIII Suwannee River S. at Gulfstream and notched back-to-back tallies in the GIII Matchmaker S. and GIII Violet S. this summer at Monmouth.
Brown also starts the lightly-raced sophomore filly Pollara (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). A debut victress Apr. 2 at Saint-Cloud, the bay was runner-up in the Prix de la Seine May 6 at Longchamp before annexing the G3 Prix de Royaumont June 3 at Chantilly. The bay adds Lasix in this Stateside debut.
Mrs. Henri Devin's Golden Legend (Fr) (Doctor Dino {Fr}) is the best-fancied of the European contingent on the morning line. Seventh in the G1 Darley Prix Jean Romanet Aug. 19 at Deauville, she comes into this off a defeat of males in the G3 La Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte Sept. 17.
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