Bear’s Chill threw caution to his three-year-old Canadian-bred rivals heading towards the Queen’s Plate after dominating Saturday’s $150,000 Queenston Stakes at Woodbine.
The seven-furlong Queenston is traditionally a key prep for the $1 million Plate, first gem in Canada’s Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, which is set for June 26 at Woodbine this year.
On Saturday, Emile Ramsammy sent the Artie Schiller colt to the lead early through fractions of :23.51 and :45.67 en route to the powerful wire-to-wire victory for trainer Reade Baker and owner Bear Stables Inc. in 1:21.91.
It stamps the bay a favourite for 152nd edition of the 1 1/4-mile race.
Ramsammy said Bear’s Chill had it his own way in the Queenston. “He’s a versatile horse. He controlled the race from the start. He lived up to his name. He’s a bear.”
Baker was asked about the Plate and whether that was the end game for Bear’s Chill.
“That’s there we want to be,” said Baker. “I’ve always been impressed with him. He’s a big, strong, tough horse. You have to worry a horse like that is going to stay sound.”
Baker indicated the route to the Plate would likely go through the Plate Trial, at 1 1/8 miles, on June 5 at Woodbine.
The Queenston was the first stakes win for Bear’s Chill and he now has a career mark of three victories in five starts for purse earnings of $186,900.
The last Queenston winner to capture the Queen’s Plate was Not Bourbon in 2008.
Bear’s Chill paid $3.90, $3, $2.30 across the board as the odds-on public choice and combined with Say No More ($5.30, $3.50) for a $18.30 exactor. Oh Canada paid $2.60 to show.
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