Three times this century a Canadian-bred three-year-old has won both the Marine Stakes (G3) and the King’s Plate: Wando in 2003, Strait of Dover in 2012 and Shaman Ghost in 2015. As the race is an open event, American-breds can compete and three are entered against four Canadian-breds in the 2024 edition on Saturday, June 29 at Woodbine.
The Marine is race 9 while the filly counterpart, the Selene Stakes (G3) is race 6. The Selene has just two Woodbine Oaks eligibles against some tough US-breds.
Contested at 1 1/16 miles on Tapeta, the Marine goes back to 1956 when it was won by Compactor at Greenwood. Six other times a Marine winner has gone on to win the Plate.
One of the leading Plate hopefuls is in the Marine – PIPERS FACTOR (The Factor), a colt bred and owned by Chiefswood Stable. Trained by Katerina Vassilieva, who won the 2022 Marine with Rondure, Piper’s Factor comes off a strong win in an allowance/optional claiming race at 1 1/16 miles earning an 85 Beyer Speed Figure. He defeated a few older horses in that win, his first victory since he won second time out last September.
That victory came in his first race back at Woodbine after somewhat of a drab Florida stint in which he was well beaten in the dirt race and then fifth in a Tapeta event. Kazushi Kimura will ride Pipers Factor.
BABBO will try and get to the lead and get back into form after he faded in his season debut in the Queenston Stakes. The Kantharos colt won the 1 1/8 mile Coronation Futurity last year on the front end, defeating Piper’s Factor. There is little question he will have the lead to himself unless Maximus Magic decides to gun for the lead.
A pair of three-year-olds owned by Manfred and Penny Conrad rate respect in the Marine. ESSEX SERPENT (Honor Code) won his debut at 5 1/2 furlongs and then was second in the Queenston to Plate favourite My Boy Prince. He is bred to enjoy the longer distance. MIDNIGHT MASCOT (Army Mule) tried 1 1/16 miles last year in the Grade 3 Grey and was fifth. He comes off a third-place finish in the King Corrie Stakes, won by My Boy Prince.
The American-breds in the race are Maximus Magic, CAMEO PERFORMANCE (Oscar Performance), trained by Brendan Walsh and a turf winner, and NATIVE LAND (Mastery), trained by Riley Mott, a two-time winner on dirt.
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The Selene Stakes seems to belong to 2023 Champion two-year-old filly Witwatrsrand. RED SAMURAI (First Samurai) was second in the Fury Stakes and is one of two Oaks hopefuls along with Shamans Girl, who was fifth in the Fury.
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