Sept 20, 2026 – Canuck Racing Club’s Cyclone Taylor took a significant step forward in his second career start Sunday at Woodbine. Overcoming contact at the break, the 3-year-old son of Essential Quality made a smooth move into contention and took command at the top of the stretch. Raced in partnership with his breeder, Anderson Farms, the gelding broke his maiden in a $125,500 maiden special weight for 3YO+ going 6.5 furlongs over firm turf.
Named after Ontario legend Fred ‘Cyclone’ Taylor, the greatest hockey player of his time and the sport’s first-ever star, Cyclone Taylor finished fourth on debut at Woodbine on August 23, and the market expected improvement. He was listed at 2-1 on the morning line behind 8-5 favourite Hard Right, with Starship Salute next at 3-1.
Under jockey Pietro Moran, Cyclone Taylor didn’t get the cleanest beginning, taking a bump from the outside as the gates opened and coming away fifth. Moran didn’t rush him in response. He allowed Cyclone Taylor to find his feet before moving him forward between horses down the backside.
That put him into third behind Slightly Naughty and Starship Salute. Slightly Naughty established the lead, and Cyclone Taylor kept a close watch on the front pair through an opening quarter in 23.52.
By the half in 47.25, Cyclone Taylor had worked his way to within a head of second. Moran then allowed him to continue advancing three wide around the turn before asking him to go after the leaders approaching the top of the stretch. Cyclone Taylor responded, pouncing three wide, taking control, and opening a 1.5-length advantage.
But the race wasn’t finished. Hard Right, who had been taken back early, launched a sustained run on the outside, while Auntie’s Bambino remained involved between horses.
Moran kept Cyclone Taylor busy through the final furlong as the challengers came after him – and kept finding enough to hold off his nearest rival by 0.75 lengths, completing the 6.5 furlongs in 1:16.27.
