The 5-year-old daughter of Nathaniel defended her title in the Long Island, which she won last year when collaring stablemate Traipsing up the rail in the final strides. Mutamakina saw some added ground in this year's Long Island which was moved from 11 to 12 furlongs.

“I'm still enjoying the win,” Clement said. “I'm very grateful for the owner and hopefully we can be lucky again.”

Previously trained in France by Carlos Laffon-Parias, Mutamakina achieved modest success overseas, including a Group 2 placing behind subsequent Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Sottsass at Longchamp in Paris, France. She finished a distant eighth to eventual Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf winner Audarya in her final start in France in August 2020.

Her career reached new heights when transferred to Clement in New York, finishing a troubled third in last year's Zagora at Belmont over yielding turf en route to her first Long Island score to close out her 4-year-old campaign.

Following three losses at Belmont at stakes level to launch her 2021 season, including a second in the G2 Sheepshead Bay and a third in the River Memories, Mutamakina went on a three-race tear, traveling to Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario, to capture the G2 Dance Smartly and G1 E.P. Taylor ahead of this year's Long Island.

“She had a real career in the States. It was a great decision on their part to send her here because she improved her resume by coming here,” Clement said. “When things work out with staying fillies like her, these things happen. She's talented and an above-average horse and, like most horses, she got better as she got older.”

Dylan Davis, undefeated aboard Mutamakina, piloted the mare to all four of her triumphs in North America. She provided Davis with his first Grade 1 win by besting stablemate La Dragontea by a neck in the E.P. Taylor in October.

“I got aboard her because Kieran Lalor, the racing manager for Al Shira'aa Stud, really wanted me to ride her after I rode her in last year's Long Island,” Davis said. “She had different riders in between then, but once I got back up on her this summer, we hooked back up. She was my first Grade 1 winner, I went 4-for-4 on her. How much better can you get than that? I'm going to get a nice big picture of her and put it in my house.

“She's pretty straightforward,” Davis continued. “She was actually a little more on edge at Woodbine. She'd be more on it those first couple of jumps out of the gate. After that, she would settle down, but over here she was more relaxed.”

Mutamakina is slated to ship to Ireland for a broodmare career, where she will be bred to Dubawi.

Bred in Great Britain by Widgham Stud, Mutamakina is out of the Danehill broodmare Joshua's Princess. Her fourth dam is 1995 European Horse of the Year Ridgewood Pearl, who captured that year's G1 Breeders' Cup Mile at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

Mutamakina closed out her career with a record of 17-6-3-3 with purse earnings of $854,066.

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In the 1 1/2-mile stakes over firm turf, the daughter of Nathaniel (IRE) lingered toward the back of the pack, with Candy Flower running easily on the lead a length ahead of Sorrel and Harajuku. For the first mile, Mutamakina saved ground, running in fifth behind fellow Christophe Clement trainee La Dragontea. Through fractions of :24.20, :50.02, and 1:15, Candy Flower looked poised to take the field all the way, her lead 1 1/2 lengths as they hit the stretch at the Ozone Park, N.Y. track.

Entering the stretch, Mutamakina had traffic in front of her, so Davis tipped her out four-wide from the rail to find a clear lane. Running on the outside of La Dragontea, Mutamakina quickly made up ground, her late surge in the final furlong shortening Candy Flower's lead and then catching her just before the wire to win by a half-length. La Dragontea was third, with Luck Money fourth.

The final time for the 1 1/2 miles was 2:28.08. Find this race's chart here.

Mutamakina paid $6.60, $4.10, and $2.90. Candy Flower paid $15.60 and $6.80. La Dragontea paid $2.60.

Bred in England by Widgham Stud, Mutamakina is out of the Danehill mare Joshua's Princess (GB). She is owned by Al Shira'aa Farms. She was consigned by New England Stud and purchased by Shawn Dugan, agent, for $137,225 at the 2017 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. With her win in the G3 Long Island, Mutamakina has three wins in six starts in 2021, for a lifetime record of six wins in 17 starts and career earnings of $854,509. Her win gives trainer Christophe Clement his fourth win in this graded stakes.

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Clement, a three-time winner of the 12-furlong inner test for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up, notched the exacta last year when Mutamakina slid up the rail and collared pacesetting stablemate Traipsing in the last strides to the wire.

En route to Saturday's engagement, Mutamakina captured a pair of graded stakes triumphs at Woodbine Racetrack in Canada going 10 furlongs.

Following a prominent score in the Grade 2 Dance Smartly on September 24 over firm ground, Mutamakina squared off against La Dragontea in the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor on October 17 fending off a late confrontation from her stablemate to win by a neck.

Mutamakina has been training forwardly since her last victory according to Clement, logging a four-furlong move in 50.10 seconds Saturday over the Belmont turf.

“She's been training very well. I'm very happy with her,” Clement said. “She's a top-class mare. She's never trained so well than when she came back from Canada. Her last couple of works have been remarkable and I'm excited to run her back.”

Owned by Al Shira'aa Farms, Mutamakina is out of the Danehill mare Joshua's Princess whose second dam was 1995 European Horse of the Year and Breeders Cup Mile winner Ridgewood Pearl.

Dylan Davis is 3-for-3 aboard the 5-year-old Nathaniel bay mare, who will break from post 7.

Since finishing second to Mutamakina in the E.P. Taylor, La Dragontea was sold to Rosemont Stud at the Keeneland November Sale for $1,375,000 but has remained in Clement's barn. She is slated to shuttle to Australia next year.

“I'm delighted that she's back in the barn. She'll go to Australia for next year we'll try to do the best we can with her,” Clement said.

La Dragontea made up considerable ground in the E.P. Taylor, where she was last at the top of the stretch before weaving her way through traffic and coming up just shy of victory. Prior to her last start, the 4-year-old Lope de Vega dark bay filly shipped to Woodbine and displayed stalking tactics when capturing her first stakes win in the Grade 2 Canadian on September 18 over good going.

A two-time winner on the NYRA circuit this season, La Dragontea made her North American debut a winning one in a 1 ¼-mile Belmont allowance on May 7, leading through every point of call under little urging in the stretch drive. She was a troubled sixth in her next effort cutting back to 1 1/16 miles five weeks later at Belmont.

“She was very impressive in her debut in America winning her allowance at Belmont,” Clement said. “We were very unlucky the time after that getting boxed in. She's a very good filly and she never stops improving.”

Hall of Famer Javier Castellano will ride from post 4.

Rounding out Clement's contingent is Sorrel, who makes her first start since a troubled third to subsequent Grade 1 winner War Like Goddess in the Grade 3 Orchid on March 27 at Gulfstream Park.

Owned by George Strawbridge, Jr.'s Augustin Stable and James Wigan, the 4-year-old Dansili dark bay secured three straight victories for English conditioner Sir Michael Stoute overseas prior to transferring to Clement.

“She ran very well that day, she could have won with a better trip,” Clement said of her Orchid effort. “We gave her plenty of time and she's come back well.”

Breaking from post 8, Sorrel will be ridden by Manny Franco.

Trainer Chad Brown will send out Orglandes, who recaptured her winning form last out when taking the Zagora on November 7 at Belmont. The 5-year-old daughter of Le Havre ended 2020 on a winning note when making up a dozen lengths to win the Grade 3 Red Carpet last November at Del Mar.

Brown eyes his third Long Island score, having previously saddled Goldy Espony [2015] and Lady Paname [2018].

Eric Cancel will ride Orglandes from post 2.

Four-time Long Island winning trainer Graham Motion sends out Flaxman Holdings' Harajuku, who will seek redemption following a seventh-place finish in the Grade 2 Sands Point at nine furlongs on October 16. The effort was the first under Motion's tutelage for the daughter of Deep Impact, who previously raced in France for trainer Andre Fabre. She made her North American debut when third in the 11-furlong Jockey Club Oaks Invitational in September at Belmont.

“She just got run off her feet a bit,” Motion said of her last effort. “I had questioned shortening her up a bit and obviously the result wasn't what we were looking for. This distance is more of what she wants to do.”

Harajuku will leave from post 3 under Junior Alvarado.

Completing the competitive field is Summer In Saratoga [post 1, Luis Saez] – a last out winner of the Grade 3 Dowager at Keeneland, stakes-placed Candy Flower [post 5, Kendrick Carmouche], and multiple graded-stakes paced Luck Money [post 6, Trevor McCarthy].

The Long Island is slated as Race 9 on Saturday's 10-race program, which also features the $150,000 Discovery, the $150,000 Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship, and the $100,000 Central Park. First post is 11:50 a.m. Eastern.

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Owned and bred by celebrity chef Bobby Flay, Pizza Bianca arrived at the Juvenile Fillies Turf off a good second in the G1 Natalma on September 19 at Woodbine.

The daughter of Fastnet Rock, expertly piloted by Jose Ortiz in the Juvenile Fillies Turf, found a seam in between horses in upper stretch and collared European invader Cachet in the final furlong to win by a neck over late-rallying Malavath.

Clement said Pizza Bianca will be freshened with an eye towards NYRA's filly division of the Turf Triple series, which kicks off with the G1 Belmont Oaks Invitational.

“It was very nice,” Clement said of the Breeders' Cup victory. “She's having a break at the moment, and we'll bring her back next year. She could be one that will eventually be a candidate for the Turf Triple series.”

The following day, Clement saddled Otter Band Stables' Gufo to a 10th-place finish in the G1 Breeders' Cup Turf, which was won by Jockey Club Derby Invitational winner Yibir.

The effort was a first off-the-board finish for the 4-year-old Declaration of War chestnut, who captured the G1 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer Invitational in August at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Clement mentioned the possibility of shipping Gufo to the Middle East, targeting races like the Neom Turf Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Saudi Arabia and the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai.

“He's at Payson Park having a break at the moment,” Clement said. “There are races in Saudi and Dubai or the [Grade 1] Man o' War [at Belmont Park]. They're all great choices.”

Clement said Gufo, who was headstrong in his third-place finish in the G1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic last month at Belmont, could remove blinkers for his next start.

“The main question is whether or not we keep the blinkers on him,” Clement said. “He was a bit aggressive in the middle of the race here and I thought about taking the blinkers off for the Breeders' Cup. Because the Breeders' Cup was in California, I felt that I would be better off to have him a touch more on the bridle than off the bridle. If the Breeders' Cup were elsewhere with a more kinder turf course I would probably have taken them off. We'll just have to think about it.”

Gufo brags a consistent record of 14-7-2-4 with earnings in excess of $1.2 million. In addition to the Sword Dancer, Gufo also captured the G1 Belmont Derby Invitational last year as well as three other stakes races.

On Sunday morning, Al Shira'aa Farms' Mutamakina breezed an easy half-mile in :52.22 over the Belmont inner turf in preparation for the $400,000 G3 Long Island on November 27 at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y.

The 5-year-old Nathaniel mare defeated stablemate La Dragontea last out in the G1 E.P. Taylor at Woodbine Racetrack, following a triumph in the G2 Dance Smarty on August 22 at the Toronto oval.

“She had a nice work. She'll work once more next week,” Clement said.

Clement said La Dragontea, winner of the G2 Canadian on September 18 at Woodbine, and graded stakes-placed Sorrel are also possible candidates for the 12-furlong stamina test.

“Mutamakina for sure will run. The other two, we'll see how they train next week and go from there,” Clement said.

Sorrel, an Augustin Stable and James Wigan homebred, was last seen finishing third in her North American debut to War Like Goddess in the G3 Orchid in March at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla. The daughter of Dansili went a half-mile in :52.34 over the Belmont inner turf on Sunday morning.

“If the ground is on the firmer side, I'll run her in the Long Island. If it's too soft, I don't think I will,” Clement said.

Manzanita Stables' Tap the Faith, who broke her maiden at first asking on Sunday going a one-turn mile at Belmont, is a possible candidate for the $250,000 G2 Demoiselle on December 4 at Aqueduct.

“Today was her first day back galloping and she looks great,” Clement said. “We'll work her next weekend and decide what to do with her. I really like the filly, and if she's training great and doing great, we'll go for it.”

By Tapit, Tap the Faith is out of Grade 1 winner Embellish the Lace.

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Clement said Gufo, a 4-year-old son of Declaration of War, is likely to make his next start in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf on November 6 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif., while City Man will target the $200,000 Mohawk at Belmont on Empire Showcase Day October 30.

“It was a good work. City Man in front; Gufo further back and finished very willing,” Clement said. “Gufo looked great. He will work back next week and then probably go to the Breeders' Cup. I'll speak to the owner today to make sure, but as long he's on board that's the plan.”

Gufo captured the Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational last October and added the Grade 1 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer to his ledger this summer at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Last out, the handsome chestnut settled for third in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic on October 9 over firm Belmont turf.

“He's one of the leading older horses on the grass in the country and I'm very happy with him,” Clement said.

Clement said the versatile City Man, a stakes-winner on dirt and turf, would prefer firmer footing in the 1 1/16-mile Mohawk.

Jump Sucker Stable's last-out Grade 3 Futurity-winner Slipstream [:51.14] breezed a half-mile in company with West Point Thoroughbreds', Chris Larsen, and Titletown Racing Stables' last-out Grade 3 Matron runner-up Gal in a Rush [:51.02].

“It was a good work. They both worked well and finished up very willingly,” Clement said.

Slipstream, by More Than Ready, captured the six-furlong Futurity on October 10 and is targeting the one-mile Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf on November 5 at Del Mar, while Gal in a Rush, by Ghostzapper, will point to the six-furlong $100,000 Stewart Manor for juvenile fillies here November 6.

Slipstream, who graduated at third asking sprinting seven furlongs over the Belmont turf in September, has seen his Beyer figures improve in each start, registering an 80 for his Futurity score.

“He's improving as he gets older and more mature. He's a nice horse,” Clement said.

Clement noted that last Sunday's Floral Park-winner Too Sexy, Slipstream's 4-year-old half-sister by Quality Road out of the Stormy Atlantic mare Cake Baby, will target the $150,000 Autumn Days at six furlongs on the turf at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y., on November 28.

Oak Bluff Stables' Therapist worked a half-mile solo in :50.40 in preparation for either the seven-furlong $100,000 Oyster Bay against open company on Friday or the Mohawk versus fellow state-breds on Saturday.

The 6-year-old Freud gelding, bred by Clement with Oak Bluff Stables, boasts a record of 27-9-3-6 with purse earnings of $715,865.

“He tries very hard. He's a great horse to own because you know he will always try his best,” Clement said.

Therapist ran second to Somelikeithotbrown in last year's Mohawk.

Moyglare Stud Farm's Beautiful Lover [:51.06] went a half-mile in company with Michael Dubb and Michael J. Caruso's New York-bred stakes-winner Classic Lady [:51.02].

The multiple graded-stakes placed Beautiful Lover is on target for the 12-furlong $150,000 Zagora on October 31, while Classic Lady will enter the Ticonderoga on Empire Showcase Day.

Last Sunday, Clement sent out the one-two finishers in the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario, with Al Shira'aa Farms' Mutamakina edging Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Rebecca Hillen's La Dragontea in the 10-furlong turf test.

“They both ran great. It was a big deal – the E.P. Taylor is a major race,” Clement said.

Mutamakina captured the Grade 2 Dance Smartly at Woodbine in August and Clement said the 5-year-old Nathaniel mare, who provided jockey Dylan Davis his first Grade 1 win, would make her next start in the 12-furlong $400,000 Grade 3 Long Island on November 27 at the Big A.

La Dragontea, a 4-year-old daughter of Lope De Vega, won the nine-furlong Grade 2 Canadian at Woodbine in September. She was recently supplemented to the Fasig-Tipton November Sale.

Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Darlene Bilinski's Senbei sprinted to a four-length score in the six-furlong New York Breeders' Futurity on October 18 at Finger Lakes Race Track in Farmington, N.Y.

Bred in the Empire State by Dr. Jerry Bilinski, the Candy Ride chestnut graduated at first asking in July at Saratoga and followed with a front-running win in the 6 ½-furlong Funny Cide in August at the same track.

Clement said he's enjoying the ride with the 2-year-old who has won 3-of-4 career starts and will now target the $100,000 Notebook at six-furlongs for state-breds on November 21 at the Big A.

“He won well. He's fun. He just keeps winning,” said Clement with a laugh.

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Owned by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Rebecca Hillen, La Dragontea has had an outstanding 4-year-old season since arriving from Europe and entering the barn of trainer Christophe Clement.  Her three wins this year include Woodbine's G2 Canadian Stakes, where she stalked the pace going 1 1/8 miles to win in hand. She followed that victory up with her second-place finish in the E.P. Taylor – where she changed tactics and sat well off the pace – closing strongly to lose by just a neck going 1 1/4 miles.

La Dragontea is a daughter of multiple classic winner and top European sire Lope de Vega. One of the hottest young sires in the world, he is already the sire of 49 group or graded stakes winners, 13 of which are Group or Grade 1.

La Dragontea's dam La Concorde, a winning daughter of Sadler's Wells, is closely related to European champion and champion sire Montjeu. Her immediate family includes Group 1 winners Galileo Gold, Goldream, Again, and Aclaim.

“La Dragontea should appeal to a wide variety of racing and breeding operations,” said Fasig-Tipton president Boyd Browning. “She is beautifully bred, has current Grade 1 form, and at just four years old she has a lot of racing still ahead of her.”

The Fasig-Tipton November Sale will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 9, in Lexington, Ky. The sale will begin at 2 p.m.

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Kalifornia Queen took the lead from the break of the 1 1/4-mile stakes, slowing the pace down to :27.26 for the first quarter and :54.46 for the first half. Running in second was Mutamakina, with Dylan Davis, staying to Kalifornia Queen's outside until the far turn.

As they rounded the final bend, Mutamakina pulled even with Kalifornia Queen, the two battling for the lead into the stretch. Kalifornia Queen stayed with Mutamakina until late stretch, tiring as the Clement trainee eked out a short lead. Behind them, La Dragontea, winner of the Grade 2 Canadian Stakes, the second leg of the Ladies of the Lawn series, surged after being last early, trapped behind horses until Joel Rosario tipped her outside of Mutamakina to bid for the lead. The Clement mare held on for the win, finishing a neck in front of La Dragontea. Kalifornia Queen held on for third, and Waliyak, in her first start since shipping over from Europe, was fourth.

The final time for the 1 1/4-mile E. P. Taylor Stakes was 2:09.14. Find this race's chart here.

Mutamakina paid $19.80, $8.20, and $5.80. La Dragontea paid $5.90 and $4.40. Kalifornia Queen paid $4.00.

Bred in England by Widgham Stud, Mutamakina is a 5-year-old mare by Nathaniel (IRE) out of the Danehill mare Joshua's Princess (GB). She is owned by Al Shira'aa Farms. Consigned by New England Stud, she was purchased by Shawn Dugan, agent, for $137,225 at the 2017 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. With her win in the G1 E. P. Taylor, Mutamakina has a record of two wins in five starts in 2021, for a lifetime record of 16-5-3-3 and career earnings of $634,509.

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The E.P. Taylor, a 1 ¼-mile turf test for fillies & mares, three-year-olds and upward, is complemented by the Nearctic, a six-furlong grass engagement for 3-year-olds and upward.

Conditioner Christophe Clement will be represented by a pair of top contenders in the form of La Dragontea and Mutamakina.

A four-year-old daughter of Lope de Vega-La Concorde, La Dragontea will make her second straight start at Woodbine. Bred by Bartisan Racing Ltd., the dark bay took the Grade 2 Canadian Stakes on Sept. 18, fending off a stiff challenge at the stretch call to win the 1 1/8-mile turf race by a length over Court Return.

“I think she ran very well,” said Clement. “[Joel] Rosario was very confident, and she was very impressive. She's been improving all year long.”

It was the fourth win from 12 starts for the Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Rebecca Hillen-owned mare.

Since arriving in North America, La Dragontea has recorded a mark of 3-0-0 from five starts.

“She had two wins in New York. She ran in the stakes race [fourth in the Grade 3 Robert G. Dick Memorial, on July 10] at Delaware and she did not get the best race scenario. She's been a nice filly and she's improving. It's exciting to have her. Her works have been good, and I just hope that the turf is not too soft. I don't mind it soft, just not too soft because it is always a bit extreme.”

Mutamakina, a five-year-old daughter of Nathaniel-Joshua's Princess, also comes into the E.P. Taylor off a winning effort at Woodbine.

The bay mare held on for a half-length score in the Grade 2 Dance Smartly Stakes on Aug. 22, marking her fourth career win and second graded tally (she won the Grade 3 Long Island Stakes at Aqueduct last November).

“She's a good filly too,” offered Clement. “She's trained very well. Her last two works in New York have been good. Two weeks ago, she worked with Gufo, my good colt, and she worked as well as he did. And then I sent her out on her own with [jockey] Dylan Davis. She worked very well again. Both fillies are very sound, they look great. For me, as a trainer, it is very exciting.”

Bred in Britain by Widgham Stud, Mutamakina is owned by Al Shiraa'aa Farms.

Clement, who has enjoyed great success at Woodbine over the years, including a Pattison Canadian International triumph with Relaxed Gesture in 2005, is looking to add an E.P. Taylor title to his résumé.

“I've been lucky at Woodbine, but never in the E.P. Taylor. Hopefully, we can change that luck on Sunday.”

Standing in the way is an accomplished group of turfers, including Court Return, a five-year-old daughter of Court Vision, who brings a mark of 2-6-1 from 19 races into Sunday's race. Bred and owned by Ivan Dalos, the Ontario-bred finished second to La Dragontea in the Canadian. The bay is trained by Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee Josie Carroll.

Etoile, from the stable of Chad Brown, will look to win consecutive runnings of the E.P. Taylor. Last year, the five-year-old French-bred daughter of Siyouni finished second in the Grade 2 Dance Smartly before her E.P. Taylor score. Owned by Peter Brant, Mrs. M.V. Magnier, and Mrs. Paul Shanahan, the bay mare, 4-3-0 from 12 career starts, once again finished second in the Dance Smartly.

Brown also sends out Kalifornia Queen (GER), a four-year-old daughter of Lope de Vega (IRE) and Great Island, a five-year-old daughter of Scat Daddy. Kalifornia Queen (3-2-2 from 12 starts) was second in the Grade 3 Matchmaker this July, a race won by Great Island (4-2-2 from eight starts).

Trainer Roger Varian sends out Waliyak (FR), a four-year-old daughter of Le Havre, who has a record of 4-5-3 from 14 starts. In her latest effort, the dark bay, owned by Fawzi Abdulla Nass, won the Group 3 Prix de Bertrand Tarragon on September 17.

Family Way (4-1-2 from 11 starts), a four-year-old daughter of Uncle Mo, Merveilleux (4-3-2 from 15 starts), a four-year-old daughter of Paynter, and Keyflower (FR, 2-2-2 from eight starts), a three-year-old daughter of Kheleyf, complete the field.

Flying Trapeze won the inaugural running of the E.P. Taylor Stakes (known as the Nettie Handicap until 1981) in 1956. Trainers Lou Cavalaris Jr., Frank Merrill Jr., and Maurice Zilber have won three editions of the race. Kitty Girl (1957, 1958) is the only two-time winner.

The E.P. Taylor is the final event in Woodbine's Ladies of the Lawn Series.

Launched in 2019, Woodbine's Ladies of the Lawn is a points-based bonus series that includes three premier turf races for fillies and mares. The owner of the horse who has accumulated the most points upon the conclusion of the three races will receive a $50,000 bonus, while the owner whose horse has accumulated the second and third most points will receive a $15,000 and $10,000 bonus, respectively.

The Ladies of the Lawn Series began on Sunday, Aug. 22, with the Dance Smartly Stakes, followed by the Canadian Stakes on Saturday, Sept. 18. The inaugural winner of the 2019 Ladies of the Lawn Series was Starship Jubilee, Canada's reigning Horse of the Year.

Court Return, La Dragontea and Mutamakina share top spot with 10 points each. Merveilleux (8 points) and Etoile (7 points) are next.

As part of the Ladies of the Lawn series, Woodbine is supporting charity Rethink Breast Cancer. From August 22 to October 17, racing enthusiasts can bid on specially designed pillows created from new saddle towels featuring the Rethink Breast Cancer logo. Proceeds from the online auction will be donated to Rethink Breast Cancer to assist those living with breast cancer.

To view and bid on items, click on the link: https://www.32auctions.com/LadiesOfTheLawn

First post on Sunday is 12:55 p.m. Racing fans can watch and wager on the action through HPIbet.com and the Dark Horse Bets app.

$600,000 E.P. TAYLOR STAKES
Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Walyiak – Jack Mitchell – Roger Varian
2 – Etoile – Irad Ortiz Jr. – Chad Brown
3 – Court Return – Luis Contreras – Josie Carroll
4 – Kalifornia Queen – Flavien Prat – Chad Brown
5 – Family Way – Kazushi Kimura – Brendan Walsh
6 – Mutamakina – Dylan Davis – Christophe Clement
7 – Merveilleux – Antonio Gallardo – Kevin Attard
8 – Great Island – Rafael Hernandez – Chad Brown
9 – Keyflower – Eddy Hardouin – Mauricio Delcher Sanchez
10 – La Dragontea – Joel Rosario – Christophe Clement

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Launched in 2019, Woodbine's Ladies of the Lawn is a points-based bonus series that includes three outstanding turf events for fillies and mares. The owner of the horse who has accumulated the most points at the end of the three races will receive a $50,000 bonus, while the owner of the horse who accumulated the second and third most points will receive a $15,000 and $10,000 bonus, respectively.

The 2021 edition of the Ladies of the Lawn Series kicked off on Sunday, Aug. 22, with the Grade 3 Dance Smartly Stakes (won by Mutamakina), was followed by the Grade 2 Canadian Stakes on Saturday, Sept. 18 (won by La Dragontea) and concludes with the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor Stakes on Sunday, Oct. 17. Each race is contested over the renowned E.P. Taylor Turf Course.

As part of the Ladies of the Lawn Series, Woodbine is supporting the charity Rethink Breast Cancer. From August 22 to October 17, racing enthusiasts can bid on specially designed pillows created from new saddle towels featuring the Rethink Breast Cancer logo. Proceeds from the online auction will be donated to Rethink Breast Cancer to assist those living with breast cancer.

“Woodbine is proud to be associated with charities like Rethink Breast Cancer, who provide essential services and support to our communities,” said Jim Lawson, CEO, Woodbine Entertainment. “This initiative offers fans world-class racing and the opportunity to help Rethink Breast Cancer, while also having the chance to own a one-of-a-kind piece of racing memorabilia.”

The auction runs until the end of the Ladies of the Lawn Series on Sunday, October 17.

To view and bid on the saddle towel pillows supporting Rethink Breast Cancer, click here.

The inaugural Ladies of the Lawn series was won by Kevin Attard trainee, 2019 Canadian Horse of the Year, Starship Jubilee. In 2020, the series was won by Elizabeth Way, campaigned by Hall of Fame conditioner Roger Attfield.

2021 Ladies of the Lawn Points Standings

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Trained by Christophe Clement, the son of Declaration of War was a last-out winner of the Grade 1 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer Invitational on August 28 at Saratoga, where he fended off a stretch rally from the Aidan O'Brien-trained multiple Group 1-winner Japan.

“It was an easy work on his own on the turf,” Clement said. “We'll work him back on the turf next week to be a little more aggressive. He looked good.”

Never off the board in a dozen starts, Gufo commenced his 4-year-old campaign with a second-place finish beaten a nose in the Grade 1 Man o' War before rallying from 17 lengths off the pace to finish third beaten four lengths to Domestic Spending in the Grade 1 Manhattan.

Gufo, who captured the Grade 1 Belmont Derby and Grade 1 Hollywood Derby last year, regained his winning form when stretching out to 1 ½ miles under regular rider Joel Rosario for the Grand Couturier on July 5 at Belmont where he added blinkers for the first time.

Clement said Gufo has shown improvement when adding blinkers.

“He was a bit more aggressive than usual last time, but it all worked out,” Clement said. “I think it's always a question of pace. Wherever Joel is comfortable, I'm happy usually. Blinkers on gives him a little more cruising speed. Joel never had to hit him, and the horse was a bit more consistent in the stretch. He wasn't erratic like sometimes he can be. He looked better.”

Gufo will attempt to become the fourth horse in the past decade to sweep the Sword Dancer-Joe Hirsch double, joining Channel Maker [2020], Main Sequence [2014], and Point of Entry [2012].

On Saturday, Clement saddled Soldier Rising to a runner-up finish to Yibir in the Jockey Club Derby Invitational. The son of Frankel raced along the hedge in fourth down the backstretch with a ground-saving trip and launched his bid once finding racing room in upper stretch, finishing 2 ½ lengths behind Yibir.

He was second in his previous outing in the Grade 1 Saratoga Derby Invitational on August 7 at the Spa, where he was a rallying second to Irish invader State of Rest.

“He ran really well. He looked good and came back from his race in good shape,” Clement said. “He's a very nice horse. We just have to keep him sound. We'll run him maybe once or twice more, but I'm not sure where yet. Then we should have a very nice horse for next year.”

Clement shipped two-time allowance winner La Dragontea to Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario, for a victory in the Grade 2 Canadian on Saturday. The Lope de Vega dark bay or brown filly displayed stalking tactics while under a strong hold by Rosario down the backstretch. Rosario did not coax his filly until mid-stretch, where she extended her advantage to a one-length score.

La Dragontea, owned by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Rebecca Hillen, captured her North American debut with a wire-to-wire score in a Belmont allowance at 1 ¼ miles before finishing fourth in the Grade 3 Robert Dick Memorial at Delaware Park in Wilmington, Del. Prior to the Canadian, she defeated optional claiming company over a yielding Mellon turf at Saratoga.

“She's a nice filly,” Clement said. “She was a bit unlucky when I ran her in the stakes at Delaware as the turf was very soft that day. She won yesterday nicely. It gives you an idea of the level of racing at Belmont when you think she was in her conditions. She is an improving kind of a filly.”

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