KALIK, the probable favourite for the 164th King’s Plate, is sure to have a lot of fellow Canadian-bred three-year-olds to defeat if he is going to win the biggest race in the land. And the chestnut colt, owned by Americans Robert LaPenta, eFive Racing and Madaket Stable, trained by New York-based Chad Brown and bred in Ontario by Anderson Farms and Peter Berglar, will be making his first start in his home country and first start on the Tapeta surface.
But Kalik, who will be ridden by Woodbine’s leading rider KAZUSHI KIMURA, has followed the same path to the Plate as 2021 Plate winner SAFE CONDUCT. The latter, a turf horse with a natural speed style, was fourth in the Pennine Ridge Stakes (G3) at Belmont and eighth in the Grade 1 Belmont Derby before he won the Plate. Kalik won the Pennine Ridge and was also eighth in the Belmont Derby.
Trainer Brown has been pointing Kalik to the Plate since the Pennine Ridge win. The colt, who got a bit rattled prior to his most recent race and was fractious before going in the gate, will have to be able to handle the ‘pomp and pageantry’ of a large Plate crowd come August 20.
The field is not yet set but one other American-based colt who would have also looked good in the field, NORTHERN INVADER, is passing up the Plate for the Grade 2 Secretariat Stakes on turf at Colonial Downs this Saturday.
Joining Kalik as one of the favourites is Plate Trial winner PARAMOUNT PRINCE (Society’s Chairman), Woodbine Oaks winner ELYSIAN FIELD (Hard Spun), KAUKOKAIIPUU (Mr. Speaker) and STANLEY HOUSE (Army Mule).
A maximum field size of 17 is allowed for the Plate, a 1 1/4 mile tour of the Woodbine Tapeta. The post position draw is scheduled for Wednesday next week.
The top earners are preferred. Below is a list of the possible starters by earnings with comments:
Earnings of King’s Plate hopefuls
Max. number for race – 17 (earnings used after 17)
1. Philip My Dear $411,330 – CHAMPION 2YO OF 2022 – 5TH PLATE TRIAL – Best Beyer 71
2. Elysian Field –( filly) $400,800 (must be supplemented) – WOODBINE OAKS WINNER, 83 BEYER
3. Kaukokaipuu – $297,820 – QUEENSTON WINNER, 2ND MARINE 84 BEYER
4. Twin City – $281,800 – 3RD PLATE TRIAL, 81 BEYER (sprint)
5. Velocitor – $232,109 – CORONATION FUTURITY WINNER; 81 (sprint)
6. Kalik – $228,425 – PENNINE RIDGE S. (G3) – 90 BEYER
7. Wickenheiser (filly) – $225,060 – 2ND WOODBINE OAKS – 79 BEYER
8. Stayhonor Goodside – $193,015 – 2ND ALLOWANCE – 76 BEYER
9. Paramount Prince – $184,380 – PLATE TRIAL STAKES – 81 BEYER
10. Cool Kiss – $159,000 – 2ND PLATE TRIAL – best Beyer 77 (sprint
11. Stanley House – $156,440 – 6th PLATE TRIAL, best BEYER 85
12. Midnight in Malibu – $122,260 -WON ALLOWANCE – 76 BEYER
13. Silent Miracle – $113,457 – ALLOWANCE/OPTIONAL WIN – 82 BEYER
14. Twowaycrossing – $96,235 – CLAIMING WIN – 79 BEYER
15. Moon Landing – $81,818 – 3RD ALLOWANCE (76 BEYER – HAD 84 BEYER IN MARCH
16 – Morstachy’s – $73,804 – 5th claiming race – 69 Beyer
17 Touch’n Ride – $62,338 (must be supplemented) – MAIDEN WIN – 91 BEYER – UNDECIDED
ALSO ELIGIBLE
18. El Cohete – $59,101 – 3rd ALLOWANCE – best better 79 – UNDECIDED
20. Enjoythesilent – $58,843 – 2nd ALLOWANCE – 78 BEYER
21. Trinity Park – $30,455 (must be supplemented) – 5TH CLAIMING RACE – 68 BEYER
22. Runaway Charlie – $17,568 – MAIDEN – 67 BEYER
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