Trainer Roger Attfield, with eight Queen’s Plate wins, is tied with Harry Giddings Jr. for most visits to the winner’s circle in the ‘Gallop for the Guineas’ and the conditioner is hopeful that Colleen’s Sailor can break the deadlock.
“It would mean a whole lot,” said Attfield, of the opportunity to hold the record outright. “I hold the record for (winning) the most Prince of Wales and the Breeders’ and I’ve equaled the one for the Queen’s Plate. I’ve won three Triple Crowns’, which is a record also, so this would put the icing on the cake and make me champion of all of it.”
The conditioner started the year without a proper Plate contender before Colleen’s Sailor shipped into his stable from the care of trainer Brian Lynch.
“All I had were maidens,” offered Attfield. “He ran twice as a two-year-old going two turns which really helps going into a three-year-old year. Brian Lynch had the horse at that time and treated him the right way and he arrived a nice, sound horse. I think he’s a horse that has improved as he ages and I’m pleased with him right now.”
Attfield had to change jockey for his Plate starter after John Velazquez broke his collarbone in a spill during a race at Churchill Downs, Saturday night. Corey Nakatani, who guided the colt to his win last time out, will get the return call.
The following is a list of all of Attfield’s and Giddings’s Plate winners:
Harry Giddings Jr.
Ten to Ace (1942)
Horometer (1934)
Queensway (1932)
Froth Blower (1931)
St. Paul (1920)
Beehive (1914)
Hearts of Oak (1913)
St. Bass (1911)
Roger Attfield
Not Bourbon (2008)
Regal Discovery (1995)
Peteski (1993)
Alydeed (1992)
Izvestia (1990)
With Approval (1989)
Market Control (1987)
Norcliffe (1976)
IS ‘DESTINY’ CALLING FOR KEOGH AND BAHEN?
A duo that enjoyed Queen’s Plate success one year apart will unite in the 153rd Queen’s Plate, as jockey Steven Bahen and trainer Mike Keogh look to Ultimate Destiny to deliver them another memorable score in Sunday’s ‘Gallop for the Guineas.’
Bahen, who engineered one of the biggest upsets in Plate history, when he partnered 82-1 T J’s Lucky Moon to glory in 2002 will ride the son of Dance for Destiny for Keogh, who campaigned Wando to victories in the 2003 Queen’s Plate, Prince of Wales and Breeders’ Stakes, sweeping the Triple Crown in impressive fashion.
This time, Keogh, who also won the 1999 Plate with Woodcarver, has a gelding that has never finished lower than fourth in six career outings.
“He’s a bit of a slow learner, it just takes him time to catch on to things,” offered Keogh, of the chestnut owned by Brenda Karen Selwyn-Waxman. “I gave him the nickname ‘Goofy Dewfey’ last year. That’s what he is, a big, goofy fellow. But, he’s also a horse that will give everything he has.”
Ultimate Destiny comes into the $1-million classic off a smart second-place performance at 1 1/16 miles on May 23, earning a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 77. In fact, the Ontario-bred has increased his Beyer on five consecutive occasions.
As of June 16, Bahen, this year’s recipient of the Avelino Gomez Memorial Award, has 1,247 career wins, while Keogh has 246 lifetime victories.
PROBABLE FIELD FOR THE 153RD QUEEN’S PLATE (14)
Horse/Owner/Trainer/Jockey
Big Creek/Green Hills Farm Inc./Todd Pletcher/Ramon Dominguez
Classic Bryce/Bill Sorokolit/ Darwin Banach/Todd Kabel
Colleen’s Sailor/Terra Di Sienna Stables/Roger Attfield/Corey Nakatani
Dixie Strike/John Oxley/Mark Casse/Patrick Husbands
Golden Ridge/Melnyk Racing Stables Inc./Mark Casse/Luis Contreras
Irish Mission/Robert Evans/Mark Frostad/Alex Solis
Making Amends/Quintessential Racing Fla., et al/Mark Casse/Eurico Rosa da Silva
Macho Whiskey/Harlequin/Reade Baker/Emma-Jayne Wilson
Peyton/Windhaven/Mike Doyle/Julien Leparoux
Prince Raphael/Belle & Reddington/Debbie England/Richard Dos Ramos
River Rush/Stronach Stables/Reade Baker/Jim McAleney
Strait of Dover/Canyon Farms/Dan Vella/Justin Stein
Ultimate Destiny/Brenda Selwyn-Waxman/Mike Keogh/Steven Bahen
Wilcox/Melnyk Racing Stables Inc./Josie Carroll/TBA
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