The Woodbine Oaks, the premier race for Canadian bred three-year-old fillies, is in 25 days and the King’s Plate is in 54 days. It is time to get into Classic fever.
The latest news from the two Tapeta races at Woodbine on July 19 and August 15, respectively, begin with LUV YOUR NEIGHBOR, the most accomplished Canadian-bred three-year-old this year. The filly, owned by Lael Stables, is trained by Michael Stidham and she has been racing in the U.S. Recently she won the Grade 3 Delaware Oaks with ease.
However, Hilary Pridham, Stidham’s assistant and wife, told Canadian Thoroughbred that Luv Your Neighbor would not be coming to Canada for the races. Luv Your Neighbor, by Constitution, was beaten 23 lengths in her lone attempt on Woodbine’s Tapeta, that coming last fall in the Glorious Song Stakes.
That leaves DIXIE LAW (Tiz the Law) with a slight lead on the Oaks top 10 list over impressive winner BOLD TIME (Not This Time) and her stablemate PIPER’S GIFT (Yorkton).
Dixie Law, trained by Dale Desruisseaux for Garland Williamson, posted an 86 Beyer Figure in her win in the Ruling Angel Stakes at seven furlongs and she has won at a route distance in the Grade 3 Mazarine Stakes. She has had two good workout times in June.
Bold Time is one of a fleet of Chiefswood Stables’ three-year-olds and she romped in her local return over older horses with an 83 Beyer Figure. Josie Carroll trains.
Chiefswood’s Piper’s Gift won the seven furlong Fury Stakes for Canadian-breds and is also trained by Desruisseaux. Being by Yorkton, her ability to win at nine furlongs seems to be a bit of a question.
LUSTER (Knicks Go), was third to Dixie Law in her first stakes try. She has won around two turns on grass and is trained by Josie Carroll. Carroll is also pointing the 2025 Champion Two-Year-Old Filly CORSIA VELOCE to the Oaks following her third place effort in the Fury Stakes.
More Chiefswood fillies: COOL TIMES is not expected to compete in the Oaks according to racing manager Robert Landry. The stable also has JUST IN TOUCH, a deep-closing maiden filly who is improving, and PHARAOH’S AFFAIR, another improving maiden who ran a 76 Beyer in her near miss most recently to Mark Casse trainee LAKE LOUISE.
Lake Louise (Curlin) held on to break her maiden by a neck in a 1 1/16 mile race last month.
Just in Touch (Justify) has a series of 66 Beyer Figures, but she has a strong stretch kick that could make some noise.
WOODBINE OAKS- TOP 10
as of June 22
1. Dixie Law
2. Bold Time
3. Piper’s Gift
4. Luster
5. Lake Louise
6. Pharoah’s Affair
7. Corsia Veloce
8. Just in Touch
9. Meet Me at Midnite
10. Katie’s Grace
In Plate news, the two big boys for the race currently are MAGICAL FACTOR (The Factor) and MILITARY TIME (Gun Runner) from Chiefswood and trainer Rachel Halden and St. Elias and Gary Barber. Next come some of the fillies and yet another Chiefswood runner, recent maiden winner POWELL RIVER.
It is not a strong crop of three-year-olds at this time and among the top 10, it is a wide open picture.
CANADIAN THOROUGHBRED’S TOP 18 KING’S PLATE
through June 22 2026
1. MAGICAL FACTOR (90)
2. MILITARY TIME (81)
3. DIXIE LAW – filly (86)
4. BOLD TIME – filly (83)
5. PIPER’S GIFT – filly (80)
6. POWELL RIVER (76)
7. FIRE AND WINE (86)
8. CASSON (79)
9. LUSTER filly (84)
10. YUKON STRIKER (85)
11. HIGHWAYTOTHEMOON (85)
12. CORSIA VELOCE- filly (85)
13. BRACHETTO (79)
14. BUIUM
15. VERY SPECIAL
16. BAAEED ALYNNA (61)
17. LAKE LOUISE
18. PHAROAH’S AFFAIR
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