Peter Brant, Mrs. M. V. Magnier, and Mrs. Paul Shanahan's Etoile held off late-running Court Return to accomplish her first North American victory in the CA$630,000 (US$477,666) E. P. Taylor Stakes (G1T) Oct. 18 at Woodbine.
The 4-year-old daughter of Siyouni made her third start since being moved from her native France to trainer Chad Brown in the 1 1/4-mile turf event for fillies and mares. Ridden by Rafael Hernandez, she sat just off the pace, pulled two lengths clear in the stretch, then kept back a rallying rival to win by a neck. The time on the good turf was 2:03.12.
"It was a good trip," Hernandez said. "I called Chad this morning and he told me, 'Raffi, try to get a good trip like last time. Just make sure you clear down the stretch.' He told me he'd been working the horse a few times and he put her outside of other horses, and she'd be finishing great."
Theodora B., whom Etoile had chased throughout when second in the Aug. 15 Dance Smartly Stakes (G2T) at Woodbine, set the pace again in the E. P. Taylor with fractions of :26.44, :51.04, 1:15.50, and 1:38.68 through a mile. Etoile, one of three entries off at 5-2, was third early but moved up to second three-quarters of a mile in.
Theodora B. could not carry her speed, but Court Return kicked it into gear from sixth to finish second at 41-1. Secret Message was two more lengths back in third. Rideforthecause, Theodora B., Pretty Point, and Elizabeth Way completed the order of finish.
"I heard (Court Return) coming late, but I wish she was coming closer," Hernandez said. "It was too far out, so my horse couldn't see. That's why I switched the whip to the left, to try to get her out and get her attention. But we did it."
Bred by Dominique Ades Hazan, Geraldine Henochsberg, and Patrick Fellous, Etoile was first consigned by Capucines to the 2017 Arqana Deauville August Yearlings Sale where trainer Jean-Claude Rouget went to $188,192 for her. She made seven starts for Rouget in France racing first for Ecurie Philippe Segalot, then in partnership with Martin S. Schwartz Racing when she won the Prix Cleopatre (G3), and finally for Schwartz. The bay filly went through the auction ring again at the 2019 Tattersalls December Mares Sale where Agent Hugo Lascelles purchased her for $1,019,161 from the European Sales Management consignment.
Etoile is the second foal produced from the Authorized mare Milena's Dream. Brant's White Birch Farm, with Oceanic Bloodstock as agent, purchased Etoile's Lethal Force half sister, Arletta, from Capucines for $99,918 at last year's Arqana August yearling sale. Milena's Dream also has a yearling Dabirsim filly.
