There are less than 60 days until the 67th Woodbine Oaks, the premier race for Canadian-bred 3-year-old fillies, July 24, 2022, and four weeks later that winner could take on the boys in the 163rd Queen’s Plate for Canadian-bred 3-year-olds.

CanadianThoroughbred.com has been keeping its Top 15 Plate contenders list for a few months, noting horses heading in the right direction or dropping horses off the rankings.

Of course, MESSIER remains the number 1 Plate contender based on his graded stakes win in California and his second-place finish in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby. The speedy Empire Maker colt chased the sizzling pace in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and faded to 15th, so he is in regrouping mode with trainer Tim Yakteen. It remains unclear if the colt would travel to Woodbine to try 10 furlongs on a synthetic surface.

While not currently eligible for the Canadian Triple Crown/Queen’s Plate, INTERSTATEDAYDREAM, the 3-year-old Ontario-bred filly who won the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico on May 20 with a 91 Beyer Figure, must be considered a contender. According to the filly’s owner, Arkansas’ Staton Flurry of Flurry Racing, and trainer Brad Cox, the July 24 Oaks is firmly on the filly’s radar. She was bred by the late Bill Graham, master of Windhaven Farm in Caledon.

The supplemental payment for the Triple Crown is $5,000 (CAD) due on June 1 (plus $10,000 to enter) or $25,000 at Plate entry time.

Flashy maiden winner RONDEUR is owned by Borders Racing, a company owned by Hazel Bennett with the main shareholder Hary Dobson of Monte Carlo. Trained by Katerina Vassilieva, Rondeur is a son of Oxbow and he earned an 86 Beyer Figure for his maiden win at seven furlongs.

GOD OF LOVE, Canada’s Champion 2-year-old colt of 2021, has recently returned to training after a minor injury following his run in the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. The Gary Barber and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners colt trained by Mark Casse finished sixth at Tampa Bay Downs and has not worked since. Casse has noted to Daily Racing Form that he is not certain the colt will make the Plate.

The upcoming Queenston Stakes for Canadian-breds at seven furlongs on June 12 will have a number of Plate eligibles in the field. They could include DUKE OF LOVE, a 2-time winner who won a local sprint with an 86 Beyer Figure recently.

Coronation Futurity winner THE MINKSTER has been working fast for his return for trainer Dan Vella. The English Channel colt is undefeated in two races. SIR FOR SURE, who won a maiden race at Gulfstream with a 74 Beyer Figure, had a bullet work at five furlongs on Wednesday, 59.40, for the Casse stable.

A recent 1 1/16 mile maiden race saw WINSTON BLUE, trained by Gail Cox, edge HALL OF DREAMS with a 73 Beyer Figure.

Canadian Thoroughbred’s Top 15 Queen’s Plate Contenders

  1. Messier
  2. Interstatedaydream (would have to be supplemented)
  3. Rondeur
  4. God of Love
  5. Sir For Sure
  6. The Minkster
  7. Duke of Love
  8. Moira
  9. Hall of Dreams
  10. Winston Blue
  11. Sahlabiya
  12. Allegorical
  13. Justin’s Way
  14. Dancin in Da’nile
  15. Ironstone

INTERSTATEDAYDREAM is a daughter of Classic Empire – Babcock, by Uncle Mo. The filly has never tried a synthetic dirt surface but at this time, all she would need to do is show up for the 1 1/8 mile Oaks and she would be tough to beat. The July 1 Selene Stakes (G3) is the main prep for the Oaks.

The Oaks contenders list is a bit skimpy with the fancy maiden SAHLABIYA rated third by Canadian Thoroughbred. The $1.6 million yearling purchase, bred by Anderson Farms, was a close third in her career debut at Belmont on May 1 in a 1 1/16 mile race on grass. She is by Medaglia D’Oro and earned a 78 Beyer Figure. Chad Brown trains for Shadwell Stable.

MOIRA, the Princess Elizabeth Stakes winner, has been training steadily for weeks and is close to making her season debut. The Kevin Attard trainee is by Ghostzapper and will try to become Attard’s second straight Oaks winner.

Terra Racing’s SOUPER FLASHY had a nice win off the layoff in a sprint on May 12. Trained by Kevin Attard, the Souper Speedy gal was second in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes to Moira last fall. In her comeback race at six furlongs, Souper Flashy earned a 72 Beyer Figure.

An Oaks contender could come out of an optional race at 1 1/16 miles at Woodbine on Friday, May 27. Race 3 has lured My Girl Sky and Silver Magnatized, already on the top 10, and Strega.

Woodbine Oaks Top 10 Contenders

  1. Interstatedaydream
  2. Moira
  3. Sahlybiya
  4. Souper Flashy
  5. Curlin Candy
  6. Brisky Frolic
  7. My Girl Sky
  8. Silver Magnatized
  9. Broen Proposal
  10. Grey Society

 

Tags: 163rd Queen's Plate; 67th Woodbine Oaks, God of Love, Interstatedaydream, Messier, Rondure,

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