Coronation Futurity winner FIRE AND WINE, one of the early favourites for the King’s Plate on August 15, gets his three-year-old campaign underway on Sunday in the seven furlong King Corrie Stakes worth $100,000.
The King Corrie has drawn a field of seven and there are four Plate eligibles in the field.
Fire and Wine, a son of Lexitonian from Double Latte by The Factor, finished third three times early in his two-year-old campaign last year for owner Paul Ryder and trainer Zeljko Krcmar, competing for $40,000 claiming on a trio of occasions. Once he was stretched out to 1 1/16 miles, he broke his maiden by 13 lengths with a 63 Beyer Speed Figure. On Nov. 29, he led all the way under jockey Slade Jones and won the $250,000 Canadian-bred race at 1 1/8 miles by 5 lengths with an 86 Beyer Figure.
Krcmar said in April to Woodbine about the gelding’s schedule for this spring leading up to the Plate, “I’m probably going to give him one race in June and then, maybe, probably for King’s Trial for the race before the King’s Plate,” said Krcmar. “Then after that, we will see how it runs.”
Following a winter in Florida and two timed workouts,, Krcmar has elected to get Fire and Wine started this weekend. Fire and Wine is seeking to become the first horse to win the Coronation Futurity at two and Plate at three since Norcliffe did it in 1975 and ’76.
The other three Plate eligibles in the field, RELOAD RALEIGH, CASSON and HIGHWAYTOTHEMOON appear to be shorter-distance horses. Reload Raleigh, by Reload, won the 7 furlong Frost King Stakes last season for Kevin Drew and trainer Barb Minshall. Casson, trained by Mark Casse for Conrad Farms, won the 5 1/2 furlong Victoria Stakes and was recently fourth in the Texas Glitter Stakes at 5 furlongs on the Tapeta at Gulfstream Park in Florida. Highwaytothemoon won his 2026 opener at 5 1/2 furlongs.
Visiting Woodbine for the first time for the King Corrie is Group 3-placed LEARNTODISCOVER (GB) for trainer Brendan Walsh, impressive debut winner IMPULSIVE BID for Camhaven Farn and two-time winner RUDE PROCEDURE for trainer Mark Casse.
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