It’s never too early to begin forming your favourites list for the two most prestigious races for Canadian-bred three-year-olds, the King’s Plate and Woodbine Oaks.
This year’s Plate is the 166th edition and the form of the Plate winners in past years has been solid. Certainly, the fillies such as Moira and last year’s winner Caitlynhergrtness have done the Plate proud. The latter, already Grade 1 placed, is set to have a big year as a four-year-old it appears.
This year’s Oaks is the 70th running, matching the 70th anniversary of the opening of Woodbine.
Canadian Thoroughbred has assembled two lists for the two races (dates not set as of yet), considering only horses who have raced to this point. There could be major contenders for the Plate and Oaks who have not even started yet!
The Coronation Futurity, the richest race for Canadian-bred two-year-olds, once again has yielded an early Plate favourite. Of course, fans and students of Canadian racing know that the race has not produced a Plate winner since Norcliffe won in 1975.
Owner and breeder Mark Dodson hopes his colt NOTORIOUS GANGSTER is just the fellow to break that streak and the colt sure looked good winning the Futurity last year with an 82 Beyer Speed Figure. The son of American champion two-year-old Classic Empire is trained by Josie Carroll and he should be close to recording his first workout of the new year.
‘Gangster’ was behind SCORCHING, ASHLEY’S ARCHER and DEWOLF in the Cup & Saucer Stakes, a one-turn turf race at 1 1/16 miles. He may prefer the Tapeta.
Meanwhile, Scorching and ‘Ashley’ put on a great battle in the Cup & Saucer, with the former missing by a nose but getting moved up due to the disqualification of Ashley, who caused interference in the stretch. It was the filly READY FOR CANDY who got the worst of the stretch run in the Cup & Saucer and that would be a pattern for the Zilli Stable filly, who ended the season a maiden, but could have easily won a stakes race but for trouble.
Ready for Candy is being offered in the Fasig-Tipton Winter Mixed Sale on Feb. 3 in Kentucky through consignor Shannondoe Farm.
Recent maiden winner TOM’S MAGIC, a son of Justify and half-brother to Woodbine Oaks winner Dixie Moon, has the Plate on his radar, according to co-owner CJ Johnsen. The colt is based at Fair Grounds with trainer Michael Stidham.
Fillies are prominent on the Plate list currently. In addition to Ready for Candy, SHIFTY is on the list and is rated number one on the Oaks list. Her win in the Catch a Glimpse Stakes sprinting on the grass was one of the fastest races by any Canadian-bred two-year-old in 2024. She also finished third to American-bred He’s Not Joking in the Grade 3 Grey Stakes and then had a very troubled run in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes to complete her season.
Keep an eye on Canadian-breds who are racing in the US right now and tabulate your own list of Plate and Oaks contenders.
166th KING’S PLATE – Early contenders
- Notorious Gangster
- Scorching
- Ashley’s Archer
- Dewolf
- Tom’s Magic
- Shifty (f)
- Ready for Candy (f)
- Aristella (f)
- Mount Doom
- War Signal (f)
70th Woodbine Oaks
- Shifty
- Ready for Candy
- Aristella
- War Signal
- Crystal Visions
- Pop Idol
- Winterberry
- Nata Trouble
- Barbara Joan
- Someday Lady