Chiefswood Stables’ top Canadian-bred 3-year-old WEYBURN will bypass the 162nd Queen’s Plate on August 22, according to racing manager Robert Landry.
Landry told Canadian Thoroughbred on Tuesday that the graded stakes-winning son of Pioneer OftheNile will not come north from his base in New York with trainer James Jerkens.
“We don’t really like the three weeks (since his last start in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy) and there is the uncertainty of how he will handle the Tapeta surface,” said Landry. who has been in Saratoga watching the colt train.
That news will almost certainly ensure a swelled field for the 1 1/4 mile Canadian classic as Weyburn was sure to be odds-on in the race.
The maximum number allowed in the Plate is 17 with earnings deciding who gets the spots if entries overflow.
Who the favourite will be for the Plate is anyone’s guess, but bettors will no doubt be looking at Marine Stakes (G3) second and third-place finishers KEEP GRINDING (Tino Attard) and HADDASSAH (Kevin Attard), New York-based SAFE CONDUCT (Phil Serpe) and Woodbine Oaks winner MUNNYFOR RO (Kevin Attard).
Haddassah, a homebred by Air Force Blue for Al and Bill Ulwelling, moves up on the Canadian Thoroughbred Top 15 list based on a big workout August 8 in 1:11 for six furlongs, working alone. Keep Grinding (1:11 3/5) worked with stablemate Taos (1:13 4/5). HARLAN ESTATE (Kevin Attard) worked in 1:13 3/5.
Sam-Son Farms’ trio of Queenston Stakes winner TIO MAGIC and TIDAL FORCES and DANCE SOME MO will also take a lot of support. Top Magic is the likely pacesetter and should all his rivals get dragged back off the pace, he could go a long way. TIDAL FORCES has shown promise in three races and both horses are trained by Gail Cox. DANCE SOME MO, a winner at 1 1/8 miles on turf and nosed out in his Woodbine debut to Harlan Estate, is trained by Graham Motion and he worked August 7 in 1:03 for five furlongs.
PALIO, with an 80 Beyer Figure from a 1 1/16 mile turf win at Colonial Downs on July 29, is expected to come in for Mike Stidham from Fair Hill.
AVOMAN, TRUFFLE KING, H C HOLIDAY AND DERZKII, the four runners in the Plate Trial, are also expected in the Plate field.
HOMBRE, a turf winner from New York for trainer Barclay Tagg, is another expected to head north. GIANT WATERS, who won his maiden on turf August 1, is also on the list of probables. Other possible starters are COLLECTIVE FORCE, a Chiefswood Stable colt, and GO TAKE CHARGE, a maiden,
Even more possible entrants include the turf winner ARTIE’S STORM, sprint winner RIPTIDE ROCK, the filly IL MALOCCHIO and maiden winner TAKE A CHANCE who are on the bubble. That brings the number to 21.
The lower earners of the list of 20 are Go Take Charge, H C Holiday and Collective Force.
Top 15 Queen’s Plate Horses with Last 3 Beyer Speed Figures from Daily Racing Form
1. HADDASSAH (Air Force Blue); Worked 1:11 breezing Aug. 8 with Keep Grinding (1:11 3/5) Set slow pace in Grade 3 Marine, not his preferred style and was third 81, 82, 79
2. HARLAN ESTATE (Kantharos) – Steadily ground out allowance win at 1 1/8 miles in modest time but is showing improving form, 78, 76, 73
3. SAFE CONDUCT (Bodemeister) – exits tough races on tough surfaces in New York, question on Tapeta surface. Owns 87 Beyer Figure on turf. 76, 74, 87
4. MUNNYFOR RO (Munnings) – Strong win in Oaks, 82 Beyer, would have to be supplemented, 82, 75, 77
5. KEEP GRINDING (Tizway) – Well named, tries hard, second in Grade 3 Marine 84, 73, 76
6. AVOMAN (Old Forester) Won Plate Trial, will face hotter pace in Plate 82, 83, 70
7. DANCE SOME MO (Uncle Mo) – Led late in Harlan Estate’s allowance win, missed by a nose 78, 63, 80
8. TIDAL FORCES (Malibu Moon) Lost for first time in Grade 3 Marine when he forced slow pace, not his preferred style 80, 77, 70
9. H C HOLIDAY (Ami’s Holiday) 4th in recent allowance/optional to older horses with 81 Beyer Figure, 77, 81, 72
10. TIO MAGICO (Uncle Mo) – Front running type sped to big win in Queenston at seven furlongs 86, 69, 59
11. HOMBRE (Tourist) – Big maiden win and 83 Beyer Figure on July 4 for trainer Barclay Tagg 79, 83, 76
12. PALIO – turf allowance winner at Colonial Downs, 80 Beyer Figure 80, 80, 52
13. TRUFFLE KING – maiden was second by 3/4 in Plate Trial but disqualified 81 69, 69
14. COLLECTIVE FORCE – maiden was arguably best July 31, would have to be supplemented, 73, 70, 52
15. ARTIE’S STORM – turf winner over older horses, 81, 81, 79
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