It has been two months since Canadian Thoroughbred offered up a list of 15 Queen’s Plate contenders as shortly after, scheduled racing was postponed due to the COVID-19 virus. The Queen’s Plate, originally scheduled for June 27, will now be held on September 12 at Woodbine, which gives this year’s 3-year-olds plenty of time to get ready for the 1 1/4 mile Canadian classic.
The Woodbine Oaks, the biggest race for Canadian-bred fillies, will be held on August 15 on the same day as the Plate Trial. Horses from those races tend to make up much of the Plate field.
With four months until the Plate, much can happen with the sophomores, some of which have been training through the winter in the south. The list of some of the leading contenders has changed a bit and note that some on the list might not be currently eligible to the Plate, but could be supplemented.
1. Halo Again – The Coronation Futurity winner has been working regularly at Keeneland since his fourth-place finish in the Jeff Ruby Steaks on March 14 at Turfway Park. Trained by Steve Asmussen for Willis Horton and Winchell Thoroughbreds, the colt had a bullet move on May 17 of 1:01 for five furlongs. He was a $600,000 yearling and is by Speightstown, bred by Anderson Farms.
2. Elusive Knight – Like Malibu Mambo, he is a Stronach Stables homebred and he is by top sire Ghostzapper. This guy was second by half a length in the Display Stakes on Dec. 14 for trainer Sid Attard. He has recorded four workouts at Palm Meadows including a move Sunday in 1:02 2/5 for five furlongs. His 2nd dam Ariege is a Grade 1 winner of the Santa Anita Oaks.
3. Malibu Mambo – Maiden winner was second in the Coronation Futurity with a strong rally, coming up just a head short of Halo Again. Owned and bred by Stronach Stables, the Point of Entry colt was in Florida in the winter and had two workouts at Palm Meadows, May 4 and May 12, for trainer Kevin Attard.
4. Edge of Fire – Chiefswood Stables’ well-bred Curlin colt won his debut in February and has been second and third in one-mile allowance races since then. His run on May 16 at Gulfstream resulted in a 74 Beyer Figure when he was third, beaten 4 1/2 lengths.
5. Clayton – This is another Kevin Attard trainee and a colt by Bodemeister who was a sensational debut winner at five furlongs last November He recently posted a workout at Woodbine in 59 1/5 for five furlongs, May 15.
6. Curlin’s Voyage put up an 83 Beyer Figure when she got up to win the Ontario Lassie Stakes in December. She is a major contender to be named Champion 2-year-old filly at the Sovereign Awards May 19. Trainer Josie Carroll sent her out for a workout at Woodbine on May 15 in 1:00 1/5
7. Merveilleux is one of two top fillies from 2019 and she had two very close misses in stakes to end her season. She missed by a head in the Ontario Lassie to Curlin’s Voyage and a neck in the Princess Elizabeth. This Paynter filly posted her first Woodbine (recorded) workout on May 15 of 1:00 for 5 furlongs.
8. Bold Victory – John Oxley’s Flatter colt, bred by Ivan Dalos, is still a maiden but he was third in a maiden allowance at Aqueduct on March 7 with a 78 Beyer Figure. He has had three workouts at Mark Casse’s training centre through May 14.
9. Corsi – Undefeated son of Honor Code is a homebred for Mario Serrani and Glenn Sikura and also owned by S. Chen. He had two workouts in Florida earlier in the winter but has not posted a recent published workout for trainer Josie Carroll.
10. Auburn Hills – he won his maiden on the lead on turf at Fair Grounds on Feb. 15 and has been off since then. He recorded his first published workout at Woodbine on May 16, 1:01 2/5 on the Tapeta for trainer Josie Carroll. He is a Palace Malice colt owned by Cheyenne Stables and Grandview Equine.
11. Stormy Soul – This Stormy Atlantic gelding won his maiden second time out last December for trainer Kelly Callaghan with a 75 Beyer Speed Figure. He has yet to post a Woodbine recorded workout.
12. Dotted Line – This Ontario-sired fellow won his last three races of 2019 including two stakes races. the Kingarvie and Frost King. The son of Signature Red is trained by Sid Attard and has yet to post a recorded workout.
13. Tecumseh’s War – This is a Summer Front bred by Arika Everatt Meeuse and Tim Meeuse and he won his maiden at one mile on the turf at Indiana Downs last fall. He had a quick workout at Woodbine in 1:00 for five furlongs for trainer Catherine Day Phillips and owners Illium Stables LLC.
14. Green Growth – Bayern colt has had a lot of workouts and he is a maiden winner at a route distance who was fourth in the Coronation Futurity for trainer Catherine Day Phillips.
15. Muskoka Giant – Maiden was not as advanced as stablemate Muskoka Gold last year for trainer Mark Casse, but the latter has not had a workout this year and he won’t hit the list until he returns. This guy is by Curlin and he cost $350,000.
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