Favored Mrs. Lindsay looked beaten with a furlong left to run, but the group I-winning French invader fought back along the inside to overtake local hope Sealy Hill in the $1 million E.P. Taylor Stakes (gr. IT) (VIDEO) while setting a course record on the Woodbine turf Oct. 21.
Ridden by Johnny Murtagh, Mrs. Lindsay, winner of the Prix Vermeille (Fr-I) at Longchamp in her last start, had challenged the pacesetter Essential Edge for the lead mid-stretch. But on their extreme outside Canadian Triple Tiara winner Sealy Hill surged to the front under Patrick Husbands and looked to be the winner after opening a daylight lead. Mrs. Lindsay stayed on, however, prevailing with a gritty effort in the final strides by a half-length under strong urging. She completed the 1 1/4-mile journey in a time of 2:00.68 on firm going.
The Pennsylvania-bred Mrs. Lindsay, a 3-year-old daughter of Theatrical--Vole Vole Monamour (by Woodman) is now a grade I winner in France and Canada for owner Bettina Jenney, widow of Marshall Jenney, founder of Derry Meeting Farm in Pennsylvania. Francois Rohaut trains the chestnut filly, whose six previous starts all came in France. In addition to her win in the Vermeille Sept. 16, Mrs. Lindsay ran second to West Wind in the French Oaks (Fr-I) at Chantilly in June.
"It's a tremendous thrill, of course it is," Jenney said of her filly's latest success. "(France) seemed like a very obvious place to send her. She's the fifth generation to race in France. And she has a very good trainer over there. It was a good decision."
Mrs. Lindsay stalked in third as Essential Edge loped along on a lonely lead through fractions of :24 2/5, :47 3/5 and 1:11 2/5. Essential Edge still held a two-length edge in upper stretch as the Irish invader Four Sins tired. But Mrs. Lindsay soon drew even, then re-rallied when Sealy Hill made her impressive bid. Sealy Hill became the first winner of Canada's filly Triple Crown events this summer.
"I was always traveling well," said Murtagh, who took over riding chores on Mrs. Lindsay before the French Oaks. "When I asked her, she gave it to me. She's a very brave, very tough, special filly."
Sealy Hill finished 1 1/2 lengths in front of the Bobby Frankel trainee Barancella, who trailed the field after six furlongs but closed willingly for jockey Javier Castellano. Mrs. Lindsay and Sealy Hill each received a five-pound weight break from their older rivals, who carried 123.
Mrs. Lindsay began her career at 2 with a third-place finish in a maiden stakes at Longchamp in September 2006. Rohaut put her away after that, bringing her back six months later to win a listed stakes at Fountainbleau. She then won the Prix Penolope (Fr-III) at Saint-Cloud in April, setting her up for a big effort as the choice in the Prix de Diane (French Oaks).
She won the Taylor for her fourth victory in a seven-race career. Worth US$621,240, she more than doubled her bankroll to $1,174,574.
Rohaut said that unlike many French runners, Mrs. Lindsay loves a firm turf.
"She showed us last year she's a top-class filly," he said. "We gave her a good winter so she could give us a a good year."
The winner paid $4.80, $2.90 and $2.50. Sealy Hill, coming off a runner-up effort in her first try against older fillies and mares in the Canadian (Can-II), returned $4.70 and $3.20, completing a $23.40 exacta. Baancella, who ran second in last year's E.P. Taylor, was $3.20 to show.
The Niagara Queen took fourth, followed by Sans Souci Island, Essential Edge, Hostess, Four Sins, Safari Queen and Elle Runaway.
(Chart, Equibase)
Mrs. Lindsay sets record in Canadian debut.
