Sultana and jockey Rafael Hernandez winning the Maple Leaf Stakes on November 8, 2025 at Woodbine (Michael Burns Photo)
TORONTO, September 9, 2026 – Multiple graded stakes winner Sultana squares off against seven rivals, including Gimme a Nother (SAF), Diamond Rain (GB) and Jancis (IRE), in the $750,000 E.P. Taylor Stakes (G1T), run over 1 ¼ miles on the eponymous turf course, Saturday at Woodbine.
As part of the Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series, the winner of the E.P. Taylor, which includes up to $150,000 for eligible Ontario-breds, will be entitled to automatic entry into the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, to be contested over 1 3/16 miles at Keeneland on Oct. 31.
Trained by Kevin Attard for Lou Donato, Theodore Manziaris, Paul Borrelli and Lanni Bloodstock, Sultana will go after her third graded stakes crown and first at the Grade 1 level.
She arrives at the E.P. Taylor off a third in the one-mile Nassau Stakes (G2T) on July 19 and a fourth in the 1 3/8-mile Niagara over the Woodbine inner turf on Aug. 8.
“I don’t think we’ve seen the best of her in her past two starts, but that said, the last race in particular, she put in a good late run and had something left in the tank,” said Attard, who won the 2019 E.P. Taylor with multiple Canadian champion Starship Jubilee and the 2024 edition with Full Count Felicia. “She loves some pace to run at and she loves this distance, so the hope is there are some good early fractions set, and she finds herself in a position to use that long stretch run to take off with a late burst.”
The 5-year-old daughter of Always Dreaming out of the Pulpit mare Private Offering won the Maple Leaf (G3) at Woodbine on Nov. 4, putting in an impressive rally to eke out a head score in the 1 ¼-mile main track affair.
She launched her 2026 season with an equally gritty performance in the 1 ½-mile Orchid (G3T) at Gulfstream on March 28, getting to the wire a neck on top in 2:24.47.
“She’d been training really well at Palm Meadows,” said Attard, after the Orchid victory. “Obviously, it was a tough task for her off the bench, but she had trained well. She looked physically great. She ended her last campaign in the Maple Leaf going a mile and a quarter with a nice win. When we ran her on the turf last season, I thought that was her best performance up to date, so we were anxious to get her back on the grass. I think she really excels over it.”
Bred in Kentucky by Michael J. Snyder & Always Dreaming Syndicate, Sultana sports a mark of 4-1-2 from eight starts, along with $258,123 in purse earnings.
“When she’s on the top of her game, she has the ability to turn on the jets and pick off her rivals with a really nice late kick. Hopefully, the stars align and that’s what is in store on Saturday.
“Very happy with her past two works, both at four furlongs. She’s very uncomplicated in every sense. She’s easy on herself and you never have to worry about her.”
Sultana was a $50,000 (U.S.) purchase at the 2023 OBS Company June Two-Year-Olds & Horses of Racing Age Sale.
Peter Lopez is the groom.
Fast facts: Flying Trapeze won the inaugural running in 1956. Kitty Girl won consecutive editions, in 1957 and 1958. Three-time Canadian champion Momigi, bred by E.P. Taylor, won the race 50 years ago.
Wagering menu for the E.P. Taylor: Includes Rolling Double / Exacta / 0.20 Trifecta / 0.20 Superfecta / 0.20 Pick 3 (Races 10-11-12) / $1Swinger
Field for the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor
Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer
1 – Gimme a Nother (SAF) – John Velazquez – Graham Motion
2 – Achieve – Javier Castellano – Mark Casse
3 – Jancis (IRE) – Hector Isaac Berrios – Willie McCreery
4 – Diamond Rain (GB) – William Buick – Charlie Appleby
5 – Somethinabouther – Junior Alvarado – Brendan Walsh
6 – Venetian Lace (IRE) – Jamie Spencer – Charlie Johnston
7 – Sultana – Umberto Rispoli – Kevin Attard
8 – See The Fire (GB) – Robert Hornby – Andrew Balding
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Chris Lomon, Woodbine
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