The Fury and Queenston Stakes, held last weekend and both at seven furlongs for Canadian-bred three-year-olds officially kicked off the journey to the Woodbine Oaks (July 23) and King’s Plate (August 20).

It should be noted that the June 11 races on Tapeta at Woodbine seemed to be held over a track that favoured speed while Saturday’s main track races had fair results.

First, let’s look at the Queenston since the 2022 Champion two-year-old colt, PHILIP MY DEAR, was returning to the races in Sunday’s featured event. The dark-coloured colt, a grass stakes winner at two and second in the nine-furlong Coronation Futurity on Tapeta, was sprinting on the Tapeta for the first time. Showing some rust, he was tardy from post 12 under Kazushi Kimura and he was guided to the two-path early in the race while trailing with stablemate Moon Landing, the 2-to-1 favourite.

Philip My Dear moved a bit on the turn and then angled out four wide into the stretch, but he was hard-ridden to get eighth, 4 1/2 lengths behind the winner, KAUKOKAIPUU. More distance will likely help Philip, who is trained by Kevin Attard, but he might also prefer the grass.

Meanwhile, Moon Landing trailed in 12th the entire race in a perplexing performance with first-time Lasix. He will come off the Plate contenders list for now.

Kaukokaipuu gets on the Plate contenders list with his solid Queenston win that earned him a 76 Beyer Figure according to Daily Racing Form. The grey colt had a perfect trip under Rico Walcott and he is an improving fellow.

While speedsters Paramount Prince and Poulin in O T ran well, it would be hard to envision them winners at 12 furlongs. Two guys who closed ground fairly well were COOL KISS, from the Mike DePaulo/Ross Armata Jr. barn, and ONE BAY HEMINGWAY, trained by Sid Attard.

The FURY was a walk in the park for TICKER TAPE HOME, a lovely Medaglia d’Oro filly bred by Sam-Son Farms and owned by Live Oak Plantation. Back at Woodbine after a dull stint at Tampa Bay Downs, Ticker Tape Home and Patrick Husbands led all the way and posted a big 85 Beyer Figure, matching her numbers in her only other two races at seven furlongs.

The question of course is, can Ticker Tape win at 1 1/8 miles or further?

Behind Ticker Tape, ELYSIAN FIELD was not too bad, moving up to second place in the late stages and getting a career best 77 Beyer Figure. The Hard Spun filly, like Ticker Tape, is trained by Mark Casse. Third in the Fury was yet another Casse filly, ME AND MY SHADOW, who was on the wrong lead in the stretch run. TITO’S CALLING, already a winner this year, was fourth and will like longer distances.

So far, the American-based three-year-olds are topping the charts from Canadian Thoroughbred.

But recent winners at Woodbine, SIMCOE (78 Beyer) from the Chiefswood Stable, and TIBURON (68 Beyer) from trainer Kevin Attard, have snuck into the top 15. So has ENJOYTHESILENT, an impressive maiden winner last month with a 77 Beyer Figure for Lanni Bloodstock and Daniel Plouffe. Enjoythesilent was the lone three-year-old supplemented to the Plate at the June 1 payment. Also in the Attard barn is GAS ME UP, who has arrived  from California. Previously trained by Peter Euton, the son of Hard Spun was a maiden winner at one mile on the grass last fall and fourth in the Grade 3 Zuma Beach Stakes in October. Coronation Futurity winner Velocitor is off the list at this time.

Below is the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita with Oaks contender ANCIENT PEACE. Sent off at 15-to-1, the filly rushed up and was wide while doing a lot of the pace work. Late on the final turn, she jumped shadows and slipped back in deep stretch to be second, but with an 82 Beyer Speed Figure.

CANADIAN THOROUGHBRED‘S TOP 15 KING’S PLATE HOPEFULS

1. Kalik (Collected) – Lapenta, eFive Racing, Madaket Chad Brown
2. Mission of Joy (filly) (Kitten’s Joy) – Ryzan Sun, Madaket, Graham Motion
3. Equivoque (Good Magic) – CHC Racing, Todd Pletcher
4. Twin City (Klimt) R. ,R., and B. Mclellan, S. Simon, Stuart Simon
5. Stanley House (Army Mule) – J. & D. Russell – R Aramata, Jr/Mike DePaulo
6. Ancient Peace (War Front) (filly) Boardshorts Stable, John Sadler                                                                                                        7. Northern Invader (Collected) West Point Tbdrs, David Ingordo – Cherie DeVeaux
8. Philip My Dear (Silent Name (Jpn)) – Raroma Stable – Kevin Attard
9. Simcoe (Uncle Mo) Chiefswood Stable, Katerina Vassilieva
10. Abadin (Speightstown) – Three Diamonds Farm, Main Line Racing – Todd Pletcher
11. Gold Magic (Good Magic) – Al and Bill Ulwelling – Kevin Attard
12. Tiburon (Good Magic) WinStar Farm, Siena Farm  Kevin Attard
13. Poulin in O T (Reload) Owens and Empress Stable – Steve Owens
14. Wickenheiser (Lemon Drop Kid) C. Schere, A. and B. Ulwelling, Kevin Attard
15. Enjoythesilent (Silent Name (Jpn) Lanni Bloodstock and Daniel Plouffe, Kevin Attard

WOODBINE OAKS CONTENDERS

1. Mission of Joy
2. Ancient Peace
3. Ticker Tape Home
4. Big Brass Bed
5. Wickenheiser
6. Elysian Field
7. Tito’s Calling
8. Botta Swing
9.  Me and My Shadow
10. Versify

Tags: 164th King's Plate, Ancient Peace, Kaukokaipuu, Ticker Tape Home, Woodbine Oaks,

More from Canadian Thoroughbred: