Gainesway Stable and Andrew Rosen’s LUSTER, winner of the Grade 3 Selene Stakes on June 27, had her first workout since that strong score on July 8 and her final big prep before the 71st Woodbine Oaks on July 19.
The Oaks and the Plate Trial are top races, and each will also produce a couple of King’s Plate starters on August 15.
Luster, an Ontario-bred by Knicks Go from the mare Ruby Frost by The Factor, has won three of four races and she is trained by Josie Carroll, a three-time Oaks winning trainer. Carroll has won the 1 1/8 mile Oaks, worth $500,000, with Inglorious (2011), Curlin’s Voyage (2020) and in 2024 with Kin’s Concerto for Chiefswood Stable.
Interestingly, Luster is going to have to get by a Chiefswood horse if she is going to win the Oaks. Her latest workout was July 8, four furlongs in 47.20. Chiefswood is sitting on major contenders for both the Oaks and the Plate. PIPER’S GIFT, trained by Dale Desruisseaux, has won four of her last five including the seven furlong Fury Stakes on June 6. The daughter of Chiefswood stallion Yorkton had a sizzling workout at the end of June – 5 furlongs in 57.80 with a male stakes-winning stablemate. Her latest workout was on Saturday when she went an easy 5 furlongs in 1:00.60.
Desruisseaux will also saddle Garland William’s DIXIE LAW, winner of the Grade 3 Mazarine in 2025 and recently a winner of the Ruling Angel Stakes and third in the Selene. Dixie Law is by Tiz the Law and a homebred for Williamson’s Hillsbrook Farm. She breezed 5 furlongs in 59.80 on July 11.
The Oaks appears to have just five or six major contenders this year. Two-time Oaks winning trainer CATHERINE DAY PHILLIPS conditions the improving KATIE’S GRACE (Independence Hall) who was a closing second in the Selene behind Luster. Owned by Chivalry Thoroughbreds and Hubert Vester, Katie’s Grace was bred by Northern Dawn Stable and Sandy Giffen.
Last year’s Champion two-year-old filly CORSIA VELOCE, also trained by Carroll, is pointing to the Oaks in the hopes that her third-place finish in the Fury Stakes will lead to an improved run at the longer distance on Sunday.
Woodbine Oaks Contenders:
1.. Luster
2. Dixie Law
3. Katie’s Grace
4. Piper’s Gift
5. Corsia Veloce
6. Bold Time
Also Sunday, PLATE TRIAL Will Test Stamina
The 1 1/8 mile Plate Trial will sort out a lot of the boys who have Plate aspirations.
The probable field for the Trial is:
Military Time – trained by Mark Casse, was 2nd in Queenston Stakes
Casson – trained by Mark Casse, 3rd Marine Stakes
Baaeed Alynna – Won maiden at 7 furlongs, trained by Kevin Attard
Very Special – maiden, 3rd on July 4
Speights Will – 3rd $40,00 claiming
Highwaytothemoon – won Queenston
Powell River – broke maiden at 1 1/16 miles for tr – Katerina Vassilieva
King’s Plate Contender Rankings from CT
1. MAGICAL FACTOR (90)
2. BRACHETTO (90)
3. MILITARY TIME (81)
4. LUSTER (85)
5. DIXIE LAW – filly (86)
6. KATIE’S GRACE 80
7. PIPER’S GIFT – filly (80)
8. POWELL RIVER (76)
9. BAAEED ALYNNA
10. CASSON (79)
11. HIGHWAYTOTHEMOON (85)
12 VERY SPECIAL
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