One hundred Canadian-bred 3-year-olds have been nominated to the Canadian Triple Crown as of the first nomination fee of $500 on February 1. The Queen’s Plate on Aug. 21 is the first leg of the Triple Crown and a fee of $1,500 is due by June 1 for the 163rd edition of Canada’s most famous race.
Woodbine also released a list of 65 3-year-old fillies foaled in Canada who have been nominated to the 67th Woodbine Oaks, the first leg of the Triple Tiara.
MESSIER, the speedy California colt and graded stakes winner, tops the nominations and leading contenders for the Plate. The son of the late Empire Maker from the Smart Strike mare Checkered was bred by Sam-Son Farms in Milton, ON and is owned by a large group of owners: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan, Golconda Stable and Siena Farm.
However, Messier is trained by Bob Baffert, currently battling suspensions and fines for positive tests. Baffert trainee Medina Spirit was officially disqualified from the 2021 Kentucky Derby recently. Baffert, who is barred from Churchill Downs, cannot have his Kentucky Derby hopefuls accrue points in Derby preps this spring.
With a 103 Beyer Speed Figure for that front-running victory in the Robert Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita on Feb. 6 over a modest field, Messier is near the top of the charts for Kentucky Derby contenders, or he would be if he was able to gain Derby points. His ownership group could change trainers before his next race should they want to give the colt a chance to earn points.
While getting Messier to Woodbine in August may be a longshot, there are plenty of other exciting sophomores on the nomination list including several from leading trainer Mark Casse.
Casse has 10 nominated including GOD OF LOVE (Cupid), the probable Canadian 2-Year-Old champion, who is being re-routed back to Tapeta for his next race. God of Love was a modest sixth in the Sam F. Davis stakes at Tampa Bay Downs recently, his first try on the dirt.
Casse also trains the impressive maiden winner SIR FOR SURE, who won at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 5. The bay gelding, owned and bred by Heste Sport of René Hunderup of King, ON, rallied very wide on the Tapeta surface at ‘about’ 1 mile and 70 yards and earned a 74 Beyer Speed Figure for his time of 1:42.90. That time was a track record on the new surface.
Gail Cox trains eight nominees for the Triple Crown including Sam-Son Farms’ Dancin in Da’Nile, who was second in the Coronation Futurity.
The Coronation Futurity winner THE MINKSTER is one of seven nominees trained by Dan Vella.
Other major contenders at this early time include ELDON’S PRINCE (Cairo Prince), a two-time stakes winner in Florida on turf and dirt who was a closing fourth in the Grade 3 Kitten’s Joy Stakes on turf at Gulfstream. Bred by the late Bill Graham (who also bred God of Love), Eldon’s Prince was a $280,000 purchase at the 2021 Ocala April sale of juveniles and he is owned by Gentry Stable and trained by Saffie Joseph, Jr. IRONSTONE, a finalist for Champion 2-year-old colt, is one of the richest earners from 2021 and he is trained by William Armata.
Barbara Minshall has seven nominated to the Triple Crown for a variety of owners, as does Kevin Attard.
American trainers Todd Pletcher, Chad Brown and Graham Motion are also on the list with nominees.
There are eight fillies nominated to the Triple Crown including early Oaks favourite MOIRA (Ghostzapper), trained by Attard.
Canadian Triple Crown and Woodbine Oaks nominations can be viewed here.
Canadian Thoroughbred’s Top 15 Plate Contenders
- Messier
- God of Love
- Eldon’s Prince
- Sir For Sure
- The Minkster
- Ironstone
- Dancin in Da ‘nile
- Stronger Together
- Moira
- Allegorical
- Lac Macaza
- Justin’s Way
- Classy Whisper
- Hall of Dreams
- Silent Runner
WOODBINE OAKS TOP 10 CONTENDERS
- Moira
- Souper Flashy
- Icy Stare Down
- Broken Proposal
- Marie MacKay
- Aubrieta
- Trizzel Trazzel
- Baksheesh
- Ya Mar
- Swinging Mandy
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