PROBABLE FIELD (12) FOR THE JULY 2nd 158TH RUNNING OF THE QUEEN’S PLATE
HORSE / JOCKEY / TRAINER / OWNER
Aurora Way / Julien Leparoux / Stu Simon / Chiefswood Stable
Channel Maker / Rafael Hernandez / Bill Mott / Joey Gee Thoroughbreds, Wachtel Stable & Gary Barber
Guy Caballero / Jose Ortiz / Catherine Day Phillips / Sean & Dorothy Fitzhenry
Holy Helena / Luis Contreras / James Jerkens / Stronach Stables
Inflexibility / Javier Castellano / Chad Brown / Klaravich Stables, Inc. & William H. Lawrence
King and His Court / Gary Boulanger / Mark Casse / Wachtel Stable & Gary Barber
Malibu Secret / Alan Garcia / Malcolm Pierce / Sam-Son Farm
Megagray / Jesse Campbell / Mike Keogh / Gustav Schickedanz
Spirit of Caledon / Jerome Lermyte / Pat Parente / Copper Water Thoroughbred Company Ltd. & Pat Parente
State of Honor / Patrick Husbands / Mark Casse / Conrad Farms
Tiz A Slam / Eurico Da Silva / Roger Attfield / Chiefswood Stable
Watch Me Strut / David Moran / Catherine Day Phillips / Kingfield Racing Stable, Ltd. & George Philip Ledson
AURORA WAY HOPING TO GO ALL THE WAY IN 158TH PLATE
Aurora Way will be facing a tall order in the Queen’s Plate, slated for July 2, as he will be making just his career second start. But, despite that lack of experience, trainer Stu Simon believes the Chiefswood Stable homebred could prove equal to the task.
“I know he’s a pretty talented horse,” said Simon, who sent out Aurora Way to win impressively in a 1 1/16 mile maiden race here June 4 with jockey Rafael Hernandez in the irons.
“We’ve had the Plate in mind for so long,” continued the trainer, who had nursed Aurora Way through juvenile issues and a starting gate phobia before finally getting him to the races. “In a perfect world we would have liked him to have had a couple more races, but we’re kind of playing the cards we were dealt.”
With Hernandez opting for Marine Stakes runner-up Channel Maker in the July 2 Canadian Classic, Simon has enlisted Julien Leparoux to pilot Aurora Way.
“Leparoux has won races for us in the States,” said Simon. “He knows the course, and I think he (Aurora Way) is an easy horse to ride.”
Leparoux indeed knows his way around the Woodbine oval, having won the 2016 Queen’s Plate aboard Sir Dudley Digges. He also won last fall’s Grade 1 Ricoh Woodbine Mile with the superstar Tepin.
GOO GOO DOLLS AND OUR LADY PEACE HEADLINE 2-DAY QUEEN’S PLATE FESTIVAL
Multi-platinum, Grammy-nominated band Goo Goo Dolls will headline the 158th Queen’s Plate on Sunday, July 2, while Canadian rock icons Our Lady Peace will play a live concert on Saturday, July 1 to open the inaugural 2-Day Queen’s Plate Festival at Woodbine Racetrack.
General Admission tickets are on sale now with $1 from every ticket sold being donated to Rethink Breast Cancer. Tickets include 2-day access to both concerts as well as an extensive offering of attractions such as the Hats & Horseshoes Party presented by Stella Artois and the main event, the running of the 158th Queen’s Plate horse race.
Guests of the 158th Queen’s Plate can sip on Lily Sparkling Wine or enjoy a Blue Diamond, the race’s signature cocktail, while feasting on gourmet summer fare from the city’s best food trucks. Options include seafood from Buster’s Sea Cove, sustainable local fare from Heirloom, grilled cheese from Meltdown Cheesery, and an array of fun foods from the Apple Fritter Factory.
Follow along @WoodbineRacing for style inspiration, track tips & tricks, and the latest updates on everything #QP17.
QUEEN’S PLATE DRAW AVAILABLE LIVE ON WEBSITE
A reminder that the draw for the Queen’s Plate, slated for Wednesday, June 28 at 9:30am in Woodbine’s trackside tent, will be streamed live at www.queensplate.com. Further information and event details for the Queen’s Plate Festival are available there.
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