It’s King’s Plate week at Woodbine and horsepeople have put the finishing touches on their prospective starters. It appears there will be about 12 that will enter with just over half of them being serious contenders. The warm temperatures are coming back this week and the early forecast for Plate is 28 degrees C, feeling like 34, and a 70 per cent chance of rain throughout the day.
SUE LESLIE, a member of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame as Builder and currently the long-running president of the HBPA Ontario, has had many roles in Ontario horse racing. As an owner and trainer, she has had plenty of success with horses such as stakes winners Moment of Majesty, Awesome Action, Millennium Allstar, and dozens of other top runners.
This Saturday, Leslie, whose horses are now trained by Evette Chartrand-Hoek, will have her exciting young three-year-old FRIENDLY GHOST in the $1 million King’s Plate as one of the contenders.
Leslie confirmed that the son of Outwork – Kin’s Ghost by Ghostzapper will be entered Tuesday for the 165th Plate, one of possibly 11 or 12 horses expected to contest the Canadian classic.
Friendly Ghost’s workout with jockey Justin Stein on August 10 – 1:00 breezing and third fastest of 75 others who worked the distance – confirmed the gelding’s Plate participation.
Friendly Ghost has raced just three times and he won his maiden in 2024 opener and then finished third in the Plate Trial.
The filly CAITLINHERGRTNESS (named after collegiate basketball star Caitlin Clark) worked 5 furlongs in 1:00.20 in company with maiden BEDARD for trainer Kevin Attard on Saturday in her last move before the Plate. The daughter of Omaha Beach, bred by Jesse Korona and owned by Siena Farm and WinStar Farm, will have to be supplemented for $25,000 to enter the race. Bedard could also be entered in the Plate.
Attard also sent out Al and Bill Ulwelling’s pair of JOKESTAR and PIERRE to work together in 101.80 on Saturday morning.
Stronach Stables’ pair of maiden RAFAROO (second in the Plate Trial) and VITALITY each worked 5 furlongs also on Saturday. The former went in 1:00.60 handily, beating his mate who went in 1:01.20 handily. Both horses are trained by Stronach’s newest trainer, Harold Ladouceur.
There should be plenty of early pace in the Plate with sprinter Roar of the Crowd rumoured to be one that will be entered.
1 My Boy Prince – won Plate Trial – Gary Barber seeks 4th Plate, $115,000 CTHS Ontario yearling (Civaci)
2 Essex Serpent – won Grade 3 Marine Stakes – Manfred and Penny Conrad homebred (Husbands)
3 Midnight Mascot – Third Grade 3 Marine Stakes – Manfred and Penny Conrad, bred by Yvonne Schwabe Thoroughbreds, $200,00 Keeneland September sale (Kimura)
4 Caitlinhergrtness (f) – 2nd Woodbine Oaks – Siena Farm and Winstar Farm, LLC, bred by Jesse Krona, sold at 3 sales, $60,000, $160,000 and $375,000 last year, Ocala April (Hernandez)
5 Friendly Ghost – 3rd Plate Trial, – Sue Leslie, bred by Debroah Holmes’ Phoenix Rising Farms, $46,000 CTHS Ontario yearling (Stein)
6 Pierre – 3rd allowance race on grass, Al and Bill Ulwelling, bred by Ivan Dalos, $105,000 CTHS yearling sale
7 Rafaroo – 2nd Plate Trial, maiden – Stronach Stables, Frank Stronach, bred by Adena Springs
8 Jokestar – 5th Plate Trial – Al and Bill Ulwelling, homebred
9 Vitality – won maiden race – Stronach Stables, Frank Stronach, bred by Adena Springs
10 Thor’s Cause – 4th maiden race – Joe Pignatelli, Spirit’s Path Management, bred by James and Janeane Everatt and Arika Everatt Meesue, $22,000 CTHS Ontario yearling
11 No More Options – 6th Plate Trial, stakes winner, Mary Self, bred by Laurel Byrne, $5,000 Keeneland November weanling 2021 (Fukumoto)
12 Roar of the Crowd – would be shocked if entered…winner, for claiming $25,000 6 1/2 furlongs, by Reload, bred by Paradox Farm
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