163rd Queen's Plate: First Look at CT's Top 15

The 163rd Queen’s Plate will be run at Woodbine on August 21 this year and that may be quite a long time away still, but it is never too early to put out Canadian Thoroughbred‘s Top 15 Queens Plate and Woodbine Oaks contenders. The Oaks, for 3-year-old Canadian bred fillies, is traditionally held three weeks before the Plate.

The buzz right now in the land of Canadian-bred 3-year-olds is MESSIER, the 15-length winner of the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita on Feb. 6 for a large group of owners and trainer Bob Baffert. With a 103 Beyer Speed Figure for that front-running victory over a modest field, Messier, bred by Sam-Son Farms, is near the top of the charts for Kentucky Derby contenders, although Baffert is barred from Churchill Downs. Unless the owners make a trainer change, Messier (Empire Maker) will have to race elsewhere.

While getting Messier to Woodbine in August may be a longshot, one fellow who surely will have the Plate as the main goal is the impressive maiden winner SIR FOR SURE, who won at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 5.

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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.

Mark Casse trains Sir For Sure who debuted in the Frost King Stakes at Woodbine on Nov. 21 and was a troubled second, beaten by less than a length. He had a very wide trip in a subsequent sprint outing before heading to Florida.

Sir For Sure is by the pensioned Ontario stallion SLIGO BAY (IRE) sire of stars such as Horse of the Year Lexie Lou and earners of over $21 million. Sligo Bay has been standing at Adena Springs North and is a son of Sadler’s Wells.

Sir for Sure is from the Hunderup mare SERENA’S ROSE, who was bred by Rene and Darlene Hunderup at their Norse Ridge Farm. Serena’s Rose won two of 15 races and $136,178 as an allowance horse. A daughter of Ivan Dalos’ stallion MY WAY ONLY (Septieme Ciel), who stood at Norse Ridge, Serena’s Rose is from the Star de Naskra mare Quat who produced three other winners including Quarter Horse winner Quat R Mile.

GOD OF LOVE (Cupid), the probable Canadian 2-Year-Old champion, gets his 3-year-old campaign underway this Saturday in the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. ELDON’S PRINCE is a 2-time stakes winner in Florida on turf and dirt and on Feb. 5 the son of Cairo Prince 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.

Coronation Futurity winner THE MINKSTER (English Channel) is a top contender for trainer Dan Vella and Sea Glass Stables, LLC and speedy IRONSTONE (Mr. Speaker) won two sprint stakes and was second to God of Love in the Grey Stakes (G3).

In Oaks news, Princess Elizabeth Stakes winner MOIRA (Ghostzapper) is the logical top contender at this early time. Runner-up to Moira in that stake, SOUPER FLASHY and impressive Oaklawn Park maiden winner ICY STARE DOWN, are also on the list.