Caitlinhergrtness seeking to become first Plate winner to also win the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor

TORONTO, August 13, 2025 – Trainer Kevin Attard is relishing a rare opportunity for his 2024 King’s Plate winner to go from great to legendary in Saturday’s (Aug. 16) Grade 1 E.P. Taylor Stakes for fillies and mares at Woodbine Racetrack.

A victory would make Caitlinhergrtness the first Plate winner to also triumph in the E.P. Taylor in the latter’s 70th running.

“I thought that was an interesting tidbit, and obviously would love more than anything to accomplish that feat,” Attard said.

The $750,000 E.P. Taylor – run over 1 ¼ miles, fittingly on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course – has also been added to the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series as an official “Win and You’re In” race this year.

The new designation offers the winner an automatic, fees-paid berth into the $2 million (USD) Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) at the 2025 Breeders’ Cup World Championships held Oct. 31- Nov. 1 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.

The E.P. Taylor is being contested on King’s Plate Day, rather than its usual September slot, in order to accommodate upgrades to the E.P. Taylor Turf Course set to begin soon.

The date change provides the potential for good karma for Attard and the 4-year-old mare’s owner WinStar Farm LLC.

Last year, Caitlinhergrtness became the second filly in three years to win the Plate. She was the sixth female winner in the last 14 years.

“Obviously, it would be pretty special [to win the E.P. Taylor] considering she won the King’s Plate,” Attard said.

Named for basketball star Caitlin Clark, Caitlinhergrtness will contest a field of seven that includes four-time Grade 1 winner She Feels Pretty, winner of the 2023 Grade 1 Johnnie Walker Natalma Stakes at Woodbine, which was also a “Win and You’re In” race. She Feels Pretty subsequently finished third in the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Filly Turf at Santa Anita. She Feels Pretty will be ridden in the E.P. Taylor by John Velazquez.

The field also includes UK important Diamond Rain (GB), who comes to Woodbine off a victory in the Group 3 JenningsBet In Delves Hoppings Fillies Stakes at Newcastle. Diamond Rain is trained by Charlie Appleby and will be ridden by William Buick.

As for Caitlinhergrtness, a victory would be the first Grade 1 triumph. She was a close third last October at Keeneland in her only other Grade 1 start – the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup won by her E.P. Taylor rival She Feels Pretty.

“I thought [Caitlinhergrtness] ran well in the QE,” Attard said. “We were on the lead that day. I was a little surprised by that, but she was comfortable up there. And the winner of that race is arguably the best turf horse in North America right now… We were outgunned for second, but the winner was in a race of her own that day. But, we were in the hunt with the rest of the pack. So, there’s no disgrace in [Caitlinhergrtness’] effort there.”

A winner of $800,222 lifetime with a record of 4-2-2 in 12 starts, Caitlinhergrtness comes into the E.P. Taylor in good form, said her trainer.

“She is doing well,” Attard said. “She had a nice work on Saturday (Aug. 9) over the Tapeta. She went an easy half and looked good doing it. She seems to be holding her weight well this season and physically looks good. So, we’re going to give it a try. Obviously, with it being in our backyard, and the fact the complexion of the race has changed a little bit, it was worth taking a stab at it.”

In her last start, Caitlinhergrtness (Rafael Hernandez) was second in the $159,300 Grade 3 Trillium Stakes on July 26 at Woodbine.

“I thought in her last race she ran well,” Attard said. “She didn’t get the best of trips. The winner had a rail-saving kind of ride. So, I’m looking forward to Saturday.

It will be a busy day for Attard, who has the trio of Dewolf, Faber and Mansetti in the King’s Plate and has 11 horses, total, racing on the card.

“It’s a little bit stressful, a little bit exciting,” Attard said. “These are the days that you get up every morning for and work hard – both and your team. So, you want to be in these races, and we were lucky to have the horses that are going to be competing in these races. We’re just hoping for a big weekend.”

Field for the $750,000 E.P. Taylor Stakes (Race 7)

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Venencia (FR) – Rafael Hernandez – Mike Doyle

2 – Literate ​ – Sahin Civaci – Martin Drexler

3 – Diamond Rain (GB) – William Buick – Charlie Appleby

4 – She Feels Pretty ​ – John Velazquez – Cherie DeVaux

5 – Caitlinhergrtness – Flavien Prat – Kevin Attard

6 – Hurricane Clair – Sahin Civaci – Martin Drexler

7 – Ready For Shirl – Javier Castellano – Roger Attfield

Dave Briggs, for Woodbine