Gimme A Nother takes care of business in the EP Taylor, Michael Burns Photo
Phil McSween
TORONTO – Gimme a Nother (SAF) continued to cut a winning swath across North America, while scoring her first career Grade 1 triumph on this continent, winning Saturday’s $750,000 Grade 1 E.P. Taylor Stakes at Woodbine.
Breaking from the inside post, the Graham Motion-trained 6-year-old mare tucked in well along the rail, while negotiating the tricky early hairpin turn, in the 1 1/4-mile turf route on the course named after Woodbine’s founder.
A rank Achieve took the early lead, with Venetian Lace (IRE) second and Gimme a Nother (SAF) saving ground in third through an opening quarter in :26.52.
Achieve, under Javier Castellano, led through an opening half mile in :51.77 and a dawdling three-quarter mile time of 1:16.60. The lone 3-year-old, Venetian Lace (IRE), one of two Godolphin-owned interest,s tracked outside in second, with Gimme a Nother (SAF) enjoying a pocket trip on the fence under Hall of Famer rider John Velazquez.
As the field of eight fillies and mares turned for home, the other Godolphin entrant, Diamond Rain (GB), second in this Canadian classic in 2025, announced her presence and was produced in the three-path by jockey William Buick, through a mile time of 1:40.26.
Three-sixteenths out, the crafty Velazquez found a seam in the two-path and outgunned a quartet of runners to score in a driving finish by a neck, in a final time of 2:02.71 over a course listed as ‘firm.’
Velazquez scored his second consecutive win in the Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” event, his record fifth overall, and doubled up on Gimme a Nother (SAF) after winning the Grade 2 Beverly D last out at Colonial Downs.
“I wanted to bide my time,” said Velazquez, who won the E.P. Taylor on four other occasions, including in 2011 aboard local star Miss Keller. “I didn’t want to get too soon in there. Plus, I had to wait anyway. Once I saw the Godolphin horse coming in the outside, tried to follow the other Godolphin horse. Man, she responded right away. I was so pleased that when I asked, she went through that little hole there between the horses. I kept running. Very impressive.”
An emotional Motion, no stranger to success at Woodbine, spoke glowingly of his winning 6-year-old bay mare.
“She came to me undefeated. So, that was a lot of pressure, but she’s been remarkable. You know, we hoped to get her to the Breeders’ Cup last year, and it didn’t quite work out. And ever since we gave her a little break over the winter, she’s been unbeatable. She’s very special.”
Saturday’s Grade 1 win was Gimme a Nother’s fourth straight after wins in the Grade 2 John C. Mabee at Del Mar, the Grade 3 Eatontown at Monmouth and most recently in the Grade 2 Beverly D, when Velazquez, piloting her for the first time, scored by a neck.
“I love being in the one post,” said Motion. “Johnny just had a beautiful trip, and you have so much confidence when Johnny’s riding. But he said even today she was a better horse than she was last time. You know, she kind of took him there, and just very impressive.”
A multiple Grade 1 winner in South Africa, Gimme a Nother (SAF) won the first seven races of her career under trainer Michael de Kock, before coming under Motion’s tutelage.
“I think for a horse to accomplish what she’s done, you know, coming from South Africa, winning as many races as she has on two different continents – that’s extraordinary,” said Motion. “I mean, it speaks so much for South African breeding, so much for South African racing, and just goes to show they’re amongst the best of our of our American bred horses.”
Gimme a Nother (SAF) (Gimmethegreenlight*AUS – Nother Russia*SAF, by Tiger Ridge) improved to a proficient 11-3-0 from 15 career starts, while winning for the second time in three starts at the 10-furlong turf distance.
Bred in South Africa by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein and owned by Newstead Stables LLC, the winner was 5-2 on the morning line, went off at 3-1 and paid $8.90 for the win.
See The Fire (GB) rallied from fifth to miss by a nose. Jancis (IRE) was third by a neck. Venetian Lace (IRE) was fourth and mutuel choice Diamond Rain (GB) was fifth.
