It’s the first day of summer and the heat is on.
The $500,000 Woodbine Oaks and $1 million Queen’s Plate are coming up in late July and August, respectively. In fact, there are just 33 days until the Oaks for Canadian-bred 3-year-old fillies and 61 days until the Plate.
Nominations for two stepping stone races for the two classics, the Selene Stakes (G3) and Marine Stakes (G3) on July 2, are out and while each race is an open event allowing for US-breds to compete, there are plenty of Oaks and Plate candidates on the noms list. Both the Selene and Marine are 1 1/16 mile races on the Tapeta.
The Plate Trial, at 1 1/8 miles, the final major race for Plate hopefuls, will be held on Oaks day, July 24.
The movers, Queen’s Plate update
The seven-furlong Queenston Stakes on June 12 began the Plate trail for several horses, most notably THE MINKSTER, who won the 1 1/8 mile Coronation Futurity as a 2-year-old and came into the Queenston unbeaten in two starts. Owned by Sea Glass Stable of Ray and Debbie Burke of Buffalo, and trained by Dan Vella, The Minkster was sharp and ready to roll. The English Channel fellow has an appealing blend of speed and stamina and he grabbed the lead in the stretch of the Queenston and held off the closers to win with a career best 86 Beyer Speed Figure from Daily Racing Form.
The Minkster is not nominated to the Marine as Vella has noted that the colt will have his final prep in the Plate Trial.
Also collecting an 86 Beyer was RONDURE, who put up an 86 in his maiden win on May 14. Rondure closed some six lengths in the Queenston and was flying by at the finish. The Borders racing Stable colt, trained by Katerina Vassilieva has yet to try a two-turn distance. And IRONSTONE, the speedy stakes winning 2-year-old from last year, bounced back from a soft outing in the six furlong Woodstock to finish third, two necks from winning, and he also earned an 86 Beyer Figure.
MESSIER remains at the top of the list and the California-based Grade 3 winner had a workout on June 18, 47.60 at Santa Anita for trainer Tim Yakteen/Bob Baffert. It remains to be seen if the Plate is on the radar for the Empire Maker colt who was 15th in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby.
Of interest is the nomination of BOSTON TEA PARTY to the Marine Stakes. This Josham Farms-bred colt, owned by Paul Braverman and company, was a sensational winner of a six furlong turf maiden race first time out in his career with an 87 Beyer Figure. The son of American Pharoah is trained by Tony Dutrow.
Other Plate hopefuls nominated to the Marine include Rondure, Allegorical and Lac Macaza.
Marine Stakes nominations here.
Sam-Son Farms’ DANCIN IN DA’NILE had a really good 3-year-old debut in a 1 1/16 mile inner turf race against older horses on June 12. The son of Pioneerofthe Nile was 12-to-1 but sat a nice trip on the rail behind a pair of pace runners before tipping out for the stretch run. Under jockey Shaun Bridgmohan, the Gail Cox trainee raced greenly in the stretch run, lugging in while on the wrong lead, and then he was in some bumping in a tight finish. He landed third, just three quarters of a length from the win, and he earned an 84 Beyer Figure.
Trainer Julia Carey, who already has the exciting LAC MACAZA (Giant Gizmo) on the top 15 list, has another 3-year-old colt who lands on the list for the first time. GIANT TEDDY, who is currently not nominated to the Plate, won a 1 1/16 mile allowance/optional race on June 19 with a whopping 85 Beyer Figure. Giant Teddy is a three-quarter brother to graded stakes winner BROOKLYN’SWAY and is also a son of Giant Gizmo.
JUSTIN’S WAY, a Terra Racing Stable homebred, finished third behind Giant Teddy on June 19, beaten 6 1/4 lengths. The Silent Name gelding did not have much pace to run at and also keep to the dead rail for much of his journey.
The filly INTERSTATEDAYDREAM, who won the Grade 2 Black Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico on May 20 with a 91 Beyer, worked 5 furlongs at Churchill Downs on June 18 in 1:00.80. Trainer Brad Cox has the Oaks on the schedule for the Classic Empire filly who has not tried an all-weather surface yet. She is also not nominated to the Plate currently.
On the Oaks list, SWOOP TO FINISH has landed following a turf win on June 16. The American Pharoah filly earned a 65 Beyer Figure.
Just watching for now: The 2021 Champion 2-Year-Old in Canada, GOD OF LOVE has been dropped from the CT Plate contenders list as the Mark Casse trainee has yet to post a workout since he raced at Tampa Bay Downs in February. SIR FOR SURE was outrun in the Queenston and will no doubt be better when he gets more distance. HIDDEN HONOR was also one-paced in the Queenston.
Canadian Thoroughbred’s Top 15 Queen’s Plate Contenders – June 21
1. Messier – 15th Kentucky Derby, in California
2. Interstatedaydream (filly, would have to be supplemented), Black-Eyed Susan, 91 Beyer
3. The Minkster – won Queenston with an 86 beyer
4. Rondure – maiden winner, 86 Beyer Figure
5. Lac Macaza – allowance winner, 82
6. Dancin in Da’Nile – 3rd in turf race, 84 Beyer
7. Boston Tea Party – maiden winner, 87
8. Giant Teddy – would have to be supplemented, 85 Beyer
9. Ironstone – 3rd in Queenston, 86 Beyer
10. Causin Mayhem – maiden win 82
11. Duke of Love – allowance winner, 86
12. Moira – Fury, Princess Elizabeth winner, top Beyer 74
13. Allegorical – maiden winner 78
14. Basketball Jones – maiden winner – 76
15. Duke of Love – allowance winner , 86
Woodbine Oaks Top 10 Contenders
1. Interstatedaydream
2. Moira
3. Sahlabiya
4. Sister Seagull
5. Souper Flashy
6. Pioneer’s Edge
7. Maccool’s Girl – debut winner, 70 Beyer
8. Curlin Candy
9. Swoop to Finish
10. Grey Society
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