Epic Style found another gear when it mattered most, producing a powerful late run to secure her first stakes victory in the $125,000 Sweet Briar Too Stakes at Woodbine Racetrack on Saturday, September 19, 2026. The four-year-old daughter of Good Magic covered the six-furlong E.P. Taylor Turf course in 1:08.04 on a firm surface and finished 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Quadruple (GB).
Miss Vyvyanne, who arrived after a Grade 2 Highlander Stakes victory, broke sharply and took command of the seven-horse field. Emma-Jayne Wilson sent the grey forward through the opening stages, with the leader completing the first quarter-mile in 21.98 seconds. Lost and Found settled in second, while Without Cause raced third and Uphill Dance followed in fourth.
Quadruple (GB) travelled fifth along the rail, while Epic Style was held second last under Woodbine rider Pietro Moran. Orderofthephoenix (IRE) remained at the rear as Miss Vyvyanne continued to control the pace.
Miss Vyvyanne maintained her advantage through the half-mile mark in 43.92 seconds. Epic Style began to improve her position around the turn, with Moran taking her widest of the field and asking her to build momentum. The mare responded well and moved rapidly into contention as the leaders approached the final stages.
With half a furlong remaining, Epic Style swept into the lead and continued to find enough in reserve to pull clear. Quadruple (GB) produced a late run but could not close the gap, finishing second by 1 1/4 lengths. Miss Vyvyanne stayed on for third, while Without Cause completed the first four.
The result gave Epic Style the first stakes success of her career and also marked her first black-type victory. Moran rode the dark bay/brown mare for the first time and produced a well-timed finishing effort after keeping her away from the early pace.
The victory also continued a positive return to competition for Epic Style. She had arrived at Woodbine following a 2 1/4-length success at Kentucky Downs in late August, where she won over six and a half furlongs. That victory had come in her first start following a layoff, making the Sweet Briar Too Stakes her second outing since returning to the track.
Epic Style had once again shown the effectiveness of her closing style over a sprint distance. Michael Stidham had previously identified six to six and a half furlongs as the range that suited the mare particularly well, and her Woodbine performance reinforced that assessment.
Assistant trainer Parker Hendriks represented Stidham at Woodbine and praised Epic Style’s temperament and attitude around the stable. Her relaxed nature had allowed her to prepare consistently before the race, while her late acceleration had provided the decisive difference on the course.
Bred in Kentucky by Tom Durant and owned by Speedway Stables LLC, Epic Style improved her career record to four wins, three seconds and two thirds from 13 starts. She also recorded her second victory from three attempts at the turf distance.
The daughter of Good Magic had been purchased for $300,000 at the 2024 Ocala Breeders Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale. Her dam was Final Mesa, by Sky Mesa, and her latest success added an important stakes achievement to her developing record.
Miss Vyvyanne had controlled the race for much of the journey after establishing the early pace, but Epic Style’s sustained finishing effort changed the outcome in the closing stages. Quadruple (GB) also finished strongly to take second, while Miss Vyvyanne retained third after setting the early fractions.
The Epic Style Sweet Briar Too performance therefore added a significant milestone to the mare’s career. After beginning the race near the back of the field, she produced a sustained late surge under Moran and completed the six-furlong contest with enough authority to secure her first stakes crown at Woodbine Racetrack.
The Epic Style Sweet Briar Too victory marked the mare’s first stakes success after a powerful late rally carried her past Quadruple (GB) and Miss Vyvyanne at Woodbine Racetrack.
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