She Feels Pretty Narrowly Prevails in E. P. Taylor

No matter where she races in North America, all eyes are on She Feels Pretty—during the race and quite often in the winner's circle. Sent across the border to Canada for the $545,981 E. P. Taylor Stakes (G1T) Aug. 16 at Woodbine, the talented 4-year-old Karakontie (JPN) filly outlasted Godolphin's British shipper Diamond Rain (GB) by a head to win her fifth top-level stakes race. Patiently handled by Hall of Famer John Velazquez in the 1 1/4-mile turf contest, She Feels Pretty stalked the pace in third behind 52-1 longshot Hurricane Clair and 2024 King's Plate Stakes winner Caitlinhergrtness through splits of :25.08, :49.56, and 1:14.11. Cut loose by Velazquez after she took a head lead with a mile in 1:37.50, she surged to a 1 1/2-length advantage with an eighth of a mile remaining. But Diamond Rain was in hot pursuit on the outside, and she fell just short of catching the winner in the stretch. She Feels Pretty hit the finish narrowly in the front, clocked in 2:00.80 on firm turf. She paid $2.90 to win as a prohibitive favorite. Velazquez suggested his mount "got lost" in the final sixteenth of a mile, believing she might have been eyeing a distraction before a crowded grandstand at Woodbine on King's Plate day. "But she got it done," he said. She Feels Pretty won despite being unsettled down the backstretch, swishing her tail on multiple occasions. According to Velazquez and trainer Cherie DeVaux, a rival trailing her clipped her hind heels, tearing at her protective bandages, though she appeared to avoid injury upon a quick winner's circle examination. Velazquez said she became keen after the backstretch heel-clipping incident, "and from then on, it was a wrestling match with her." She was not the only filly to run well despite adverse circumstances. Godolphin's Diamond Rain, coming off two consecutive victories in England, broke nearly last in the field of seven, spotting all but Ready for Shirl several lengths in her United States debut. She recovered to grab a contending position under William Buick, before chasing the winner through the wide portion of the stretch. She fell a stride or two short of catching She Feels Pretty at the finish. Ready for Shirl edged Venencia (FR) for the distant show, with the third-place finisher 10 1/2 lengths behind the runner-up. She Feels Pretty is now a dual grade 1 winner at Woodbine, having also won the 2023 Natalma Stakes (G1T) over the track's famed E. P. Taylor turf course. She is 8-2-2 in 12 starts with earnings of $2,210,592 in converted United States funds. She is 5-for-6 since adding blinkers. With Saturday's race part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In, She Feels Pretty earned a paid automatic berth into the 1 3/8-mile Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) Nov. 1 at Del Mar. DeVaux said that race would "most definitely" be in the filly's long-term plans. Bred in Kentucky by Payson Stud out of the More Than Ready mare Summer Sweet, She Feels Pretty was acquired by Roy and Gretchen Jackson's Lael Stables for $240,000 at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale from the Stone Farm consignment. The Jacksons were on-site for Saturday's race. She Feels Pretty is one of three North American stakes winners this year for Karakontie, who stood this past season for $15,000 at Gainesway near Lexington.