There are just 25 days until the most prestigious race in Canada, the King’s Plate, worth $1 million and restricted to Canadian bred three-year-olds. The 165th Plate, at 1 1/4 miles, is on August 17 on Woodbine’s Tapeta surface and is the big event of the Ontario Thoroughbred calendar.
Following the runnings of the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks, the filly equivalent of the Plate, and the Plate Trial, it looks like a field of 10, maybe 12, will be assembled for the Plate.
Trainer Mark Casse said on Future Stars Forecast podcast Tuesday evening that reigning champion jockey KAZUSHI KIMURA, currently riding at Del Mar, will return to Woodbine to ride one of his Plate starters, MIDNIGHT MASCOT (Army Mule). Midnight Mascot is one of two Plate hopefuls for Manfred and Penny Conrad of Wellesley, ON who have yet to win the Plate. Patrick Husbands will ride their homebred gelding ESSEX SERPENT in the Plate.
Meanwhile, 2023 Champion two-year-old MY BOY PRINCE (Cairo Prince) continues to roll along as the Plate favourite, taking the Trial last weekend despite a less-than-smooth journey.
“I was more impressed with his race Sunday than any of his other races,” said Casse. “Not only did he break bad but he was very wide on the first turn. Don’t forget, he was making his first start around two turns on Tapeta. Even on the last turn he was wide.”
Chiefswood Stable’s Woodbine Oaks winner KIN’S CONCERTO is not likely to run in the Plate, as is often the case with Oaks winners.
Stronach Stables will have two starters, the maiden RAFAROO, an impressive second in the Trial, and maiden winner VITALITY. Kevin Attard has the pair of PIERRE and JOKESTAR for Al and Bill Ulwelling, although that pair would need a bit more stretch power. And the improving FRIENDLY GHOST, owned by HBPA Ontario president SUE LESLIE and trained by Evette Chartrand-Hoek, could be any kind of runner and he was third in the Trial in only his third career start.
CANADIAN THOROUGHBRED’S KING’S PLATE TOP 15 – July 24, 2024
Horse Trainer Last 3 Beyer Speed Figures owner Notes Jockey
1. MY BOY PRINCE (Casse) 87, 88, 97 Gary Barber. Champion 2-year-old of 2023 passed distance test in Trial – S Civaci
2. ESSEX SERPENT (Casse) 89, 78, 77 Manfred and Penny Conrad. Won Grade 3 Marine. Patrick Husbands
3. MIDNIGHT MASCOT (Casse) 85, 76, 76 Manfred and Penny Conrad. Closing 3rd in Grade 3 Marine. Kazushi Kimura
4 KIN’S CONCERTO (Carroll) 80, 75, 75 Chiefswood Stable. Filly won the Oaks. Not expected to run
5 FRIENDLY GHOST (Chartrand-Hoek) 83, 76, 60 Sue Leslie. Third in Trial, lightly raced, fast improving. J Stein
6 RAFAROO (Ladouceur) 83, 73 Stronach Stables. Second in Trial in second career race
7 PIERRE (Attard) 79, 79, 64 Al and Bill Ulwelling. 2nd and 3rd in recent allowances
8 A LITTLE FRISKY (Carroll) 77, 69, 79 Mark Dodson, 4th Oaks, wide trip. Not expected to run
9 CAITLINHERGRTNESS (Attard) Siena Farm LLC, WinStar Fr, LLC, 80, 79, 61. 2nd Oaks coming back in 2 weeks from win
10 HURRICANE CLAIR (Drexler) David Rowbotham, Tony Boogman, Rodney Carpenter. 78, 74, 69. 3rd Oaks
11 PIPER’S FACTOR (Vassilieva) CHiefswood Stable. 79, 76, 85. 4th Trial, Not expected to run
12 VITALITY (Ladouceur) Stronach Stables. 71,67,64. Gelded, added Lasix, won maiden
13 WAR PAINTER (Attard) 68, 74, 74 Canuck Racing 6th Oaks
14 NO MORE OPTIONS (Krcmar) 74, 78, 82 Mary Self 6th Plate Trial
15 JOKESTAR (Attard) 78, 79, 81 All and Bill Ulwelling 5th Plate Trial
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