Reggane Rallies to Win E. P. Taylor

English-bred Reggane made her North American debut a winning one, reeling in Miss Keller in deep stretch to take the $1 million E. P. Taylor Stakes (Can-IT) (VIDEO) Oct. 16 at Woodbine.

Based in France for owner Haras de La Perelle and trainer Alaine de Royer-Dupre, Reggane earned her first graded stakes win as a 10-1 outsider in a field of 10 fillies and mares travelling 1 1/4 miles on the good turf course. Christophe Soumillon rode the Red Ransom filly to victory in a final time of 2:03.38.

Reggane was reserved near the back of the field the whole way and was still next to last when they turned for home, but the bay filly circled wide under Soumillon for her winning move. Pacesetter Akarlina gave way at the top of the lane after setting splits of :26.18, :50.93, 1:14.95, and 1:39.24. Miss Keller assumed the advantage at the eighth-pole under Javier Castellano and took her lead past mid-stretch.

But Reggane had all the momentum on the outside and overtook Miss Keller in the final yards to win by one length. Miss Keller was 1 3/4 lengths in front of third-place Shalanaya. Contredanse, the 5-2 favorite, was fourth.

Reggane entered the E. P. Taylor with one win in six starts this season, that coming in the listed Prix Jacques de Bremond Stakes at Vichy in July. She was runner-up in a group III event last month in her most recent start. The win earned her an automatic berth in the Nov. 5 Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT) at Churchill Downs.

Bred by her owner, Reggame is out of the Alzao mare Reine Zao. She has now earned $844,478 from 12 lifetime starts, three of which have been victories.

The winner paid $22.80, $8.60, and $5.40. The exacta (5-6) returned $115.90, and the trifecta (5-6-1) was $526.50.