Tannery prevails over Fitful Skies in E.P. Taylor

Richard Santulli's Tannery closed from last, then held the late thrust of

Fitful Skies by a head in Sunday's Grade 1, $481,080

E.P.

Taylor Stakes at Woodbine. In the process, the Alan Goldberg trainee gave a

timely form boost to her Breeders' Cup-bound stablemate Laughing, who will

represent the same connections in the Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita.

Most recently a fast-closing second to Laughing in the September 28 Flower

Bowl Invitational, Tannery justified 2-1 favoritism here to register her first

top-level victory. The four-year-old daughter of Dylan Thomas has excelled on

rain-softened ground in the past, and found the yielding conditions at Woodbine

most welcome.

"They went head and head the other day," Goldberg said of Laughing and

Tannery, "so maybe we'll get a little lucky in California too. If she didn't run

well, I'd have said 'Oh man, what am I going out there for?'"

Tannery was patiently handled by new rider Joel Rosario, who anchored her at

the rear of the 10-distaffer field early. Up front, No Explaining led the way

through slow fractions of :26 1/5, :51 3/5 and 1:16 4/5. Colonial Flag and

Minakshi were her closest pursuers, and dual Sovereign Award winner Irish

Mission took closer order in fourth.

"That's the way she wants to run," the trainer said. "I was a little worried

about three jumps from the wire when the other horse (Fitful Skies) started

coming back.

"Joel saved a little ground down the backside, brought her out where she

wants to be and it worked out perfect. She's a very nice horse and we'll have a

nice year with her next year."

English-based Moment in Time, who blew the start, crossed the wire another

two lengths astern in third. Minakshi held fourth, followed by Samba Brazil, No

Explaining, Irish Mission, Moment of Majesty, Colonial Flag and the tailed-off

Nancy O.

Tannery, who paid $6 to win, has compiled a record of 19-6-4-1, $750,392.

Originally based with David Wachman in Ireland, the bay filly improved

significantly over the course of her sophomore campaign in 2012. After breaking

her maiden in her sixth attempt, in an ordinary handicap at Dundalk, she made it

two in a row when tackling stakes company in the Victor McCalmont Memorial at

Gowran. Tannery's progress hit a brief roadblock when she was fifth in the

Nijinsky versus males at Leopardstown, but she came right back to win her final

two Irish starts.

Tannery had the satisfaction of beating Nijinsky winner Backbench Blues in

the Martin Molony at Limerick, and defeated the classy distaffers Caponata and

Up in the Kilboy Estate at the Curragh. That marked her final start in the silks

of Mrs. D.P. Magnier, for she was subsequently purchased by Santulli and

imported to the United States.