Curvy bounces back on better ground in EP Taylor

In what may prove to be a warm-up act for stablemate Legatissimo in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1), the David Wachman-trained Curvy justified 2-1 favoritism in Sunday's $392,263 E.P. Taylor (G1) at Woodbine. The Coolmore filly never got traction over the soft ground in the Flower Bowl (G1) last out, but a good course here enabled her to rebound.

With Ryan Moore aboard for the first time since her last victory in the June 18 Ribblesdale (G2) at Royal Ascot, Curvy broke a bit slowly. As a result, she found herself further back off the slow pace carved out by Rosalind through splits of :25.08, :50.28, 1:14.93 and 1:39.63. Two other European shippers, Germany's Lacy and France's overeager Yaazy on the inside, stalked to no avail. Lacy folded at the head of the lane, and Yaazy didn't find much when the tempo quickened in earnest.

The stronger European threats emerged wider out. Curvy had to wait for room but then got a perfect split between foes, seized the opportunity, and kicked on strongly to take command. Talmada, who lost ground throughout from post 12, still rallied boldly into contention. The overland route proved too much to overcome, though, and she crossed the wire 1 1/2 lengths adrift of Curvy. Note that the four-year-old Talmada was also giving sophomore Curvy five pounds, adding even further merit to her runner-up effort. Rosalind hung tough for third, a neck up on Canadian champion Strut the Course.

Curvy negotiated 1 1/4 miles in 2:02.88 to notch her first Grade 1 score.

As a 775,000-guinea Tattersalls October yearling, the daughter of Galileo had quite a catalog page: her half-siblings include 2012 Irish 2000 Guineas (G1) hero Power as well as 2005 Ribblesdale winner Thakafaat. Their dam, the Inchinor mare Frappe, is herself a half-sister to 2005 English 2000 Guineas (G1) winner and sire Footstepsinthesand.

So you'd imagine there might have been a slight feeling of disappointment that Curvy was well beaten in her three attempts in maidens as a juvenile. This spring, she took the handicap route, and the combination of maturity, cheekpieces, and class relief did the trick. After winning two straight at Navan, she stepped up in class to face the boys in the May 24 Gallinule (G3) at the Curragh and upset even-money favorite Giovanni Canaletto.

Curvy continued her upward curve in the Ribblesdale, where she lowered the colors of another hotpot in Pleascach. The bay was subsequently third in the Irish Oaks (G1), added a visor when fourth in the Yorkshire Oaks (G1) on rain-softened ground, and again had the weather go against her when fifth in the Flower Bowl in blinkers.

Photo courtesy of WEG/Michael Burns Photography.