She Feels Pretty Holds Off Diamond Rain In E.P. Taylor originally appeared on Paulick Report.

She Feels Pretty held off the late charge of Diamond Rain (GB) to win the $750,000 E.P. Taylor (G1) on Saturday at Woodbine, earning her ticket to the Maker’s Mark Breeder’s Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1).

Advertisement

Breaking from post 4, She Feels Pretty was swishing her tail around down the backstretch after being hit by another horse, but found a comfortable spot tracking off the leaders in third. Pacesetter, and 52-1 longshot, Hurricane Clair set fractions of :25:08, :49.56, and 1:14.11 for the first six furlongs. Last year’s King’s Plate winner Caitlinhergrtness sat in second. The trio of Diamond Rain, Venencia, and Literate covered fourth through sixth, with Ready For Shirl in behind in seventh.

As the field turned into the stretch, She Feels Pretty started to pass Caitlinhergrtness and Hurricane Clair on their outside. Diamond Rain started to come with her run in behind She Feels Pretty, and the pair kicked well clear of the field. In the final furlong, She Feels Pretty started to drift out, but ultimately held on by a head over Diamond Rain. Well back, Ready For Shirl finished third, with Venencia edging out Caitlinhergrtness for fourth. Literate finished sixth, and pacesetter Hurricane Clair seventh.

Trained by Cherie DeVaux and ridden by John Velazquez, She Feels Pretty completed the 1 1/14 miles on the E.P. Taylor turf course in 2:00.80. She Feels paid $2.90 for the win as the heavy 1-2 favorite. She came in off a runner-up finish in the Dunkin Diana (G1) July 12 at Saratoga but rebounded with aplomb Saturday.

“It’s a natural progression, the Diana, and this was on our calendar,” DeVaux told Woodbine’s Jeff Bratt after the race. “She had been training so well, so it just made sense to come here now, and run her here instead of waiting a couple more weeks for the Flower Bowl.”

Advertisement

During the post-race interview, Velazquez mentioned that She Feels Pretty was hit hard from behind, which caused her tail to start swish while she traveled down the backstretch.

“Well, I just wanted to make sure she was OK,” DeVaux said. “When you start to see horse do something like that, you kind of worry what is bothering them, because she’s a pretty straightforward filly that’s never done that before. She did come back again and her bandage is cut—there’s nothing we can see, but somebody really must of ran up on her from behind.”

When asked if the Breeders Cup is on the calendar this year, DeVaux responded, “Yes, most definitely.”

The E.P. Taylor is part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge ‘Win and You’re In’ series and provides an automatic starting position into $2-million Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf this fall at Del Mar

Advertisement

She Feels Pretty was bred in Kentucky by Payson Stud and is a daughter of Karakontie (JPN) out of the More Than Ready mare Summer Sweet. Owned by Lael Stables, she has a record of eight wins, two seconds, and two thirds from 12 career starts and earnings of $2,210,592. The E.P. Taylor was She Feels Pretty’s second win at Woodbine. She won the Natalma (G1) during her 2-year-old season before a third-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1).

This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Aug 16, 2025, where it first appeared.