Six of the top seven contenders on CANADIAN THOROUGHBRED‘S KING’S PLATE contenders list are reported to have their riders set for the $1 million Canadian-bred classic on August 16 at Woodbine.
The ‘big three’ for the 1 1/4 mile race are NOTORIOUS GANGSTER, trained by three-time Plate winner Josie Carroll; the son of US champion Classic Empire has been ridden all along by Fraser Aebly.
TOM’S MAGIC, who has yet to race in Canada or on Tapeta, is the mount for RAFAEL HERNANDEZ, who leads all riders this year by stakes wins by a wide margin – nine. Michael Stidham trains Tom’s Magic for American partnership CJ Thoroughbreds and MoSpeed Racing.
Plate Trial winner SEDBURYS GHOST has Ryan Munger aboard for BARB MINSHALL and owner YAWEN WU.
The 2024 Sovereign Award-winning rider SAHIN CIVACI will ride Gary Barber and Archer Racing’s ASHLEY’S ARCHER.
Marine Stakes (G3) winner MANSETTI will have PIETRO MORAN on board.
Mansetti, trained by Kevin Attard for Al and Bill Ulwelling, will have a stablemate in the field in FABER (named for Brock Faber of the NHL’s Minnesota Wild). US rider Florent Geroux will be riding Faber.
With Woodbine Oaks runner-up Shifty not running in the Plate, she has been taken off the top-12 list, and maiden winner WATSONVILLE RED, fourth in the Trial, has moved up.
Surprise longshots aside, it appears as if the Plate will have about 12 starters.
Recent workouts:
ASHLEY’S ARCHER (Karakontie (Jpn)) – July 26, 4 fur :48 breezing
TOM’S MAGIC – July 26 Delaware, dirt :49 1/5 breezing
FABER – July 25 :51 breezing
MONTEREY BAY – July 27 6 fur, 1:14 3/5 B
RUNAWAY AGAIN – July 27 5 fur :59 2/5 with filly Red Samurai :59 4/5
CANADIAN THOROUGHBRED‘S TOP 12 KING’S PLATE CONTENDERS
1. Notorious Gangster (83) – Trained by Josie Carroll, won Coronation Futurity, fast-closing second in Woodstock, won Queenston, troubled 2nd in Trial – Fraser Aebly.
2. Tom’s Magic (83) – Won Tale of the Cat Stakes, 83 Beyer on June 28, Trained by Mike Stidham, won Fair Grounds stakes race – Rafael Hernandez.
3. Sedburys Ghost (85) – Won Plate Trial, 1st stakes win, Owner – Yawen Wu, also breeder. Trainer – Barb Minshall – Ryan Munger
4. Scorching (81) – Solid second off 8-month layoff in Marine Stakes; 3rd in Trial after getting into pace battle; Trained by John Charalambous, won Cup and Saucer in 2024.
5. No Time (88) – filly for Gary Barber/Casse, a la Lexie Lou, Wonder Gadot. Big Oaks win – John Velasquez
6. Mansetti (79 in Marine) – Al and Bill Ulwelling, trainer Kevin Attard. Marine Stakes winner – Pietro Moran
7. Ashley’s Archer (79 allowance) – Trained by Mark Casse, second in Tampa Bay allowance in ’25 debut, 79 Beyer when second in return race July 13 to US-bred – Sahin Civaci
8. William T (79) – big maiden win puts him in the hunt for trainer Don MacRae.
9. Monterey Bay (80) – maiden win on turf at 7 furlongs was eye-catching. Trained by Wesley Ward.
10. Faber (74) – closing 4th in allowance behind Ashley’s Archer – Florent Geroux to ride.
11. Runaway Again (83) – maiden winner for Stronach Stables, must be supplemented for $25,000.
12. Watsonville Red (75) – fourth Plate Trial.
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