Queen's Plate Update June 23: Halo Again Returning to Woodbine

It has been a month since we updated our TOP 15 contenders for the 2020 Queen’s Plate with HALO AGAIN and ELUSIVE KNIGHT being the top 2 players at that time.

Some things have changed since then, but there are still 2 1/2 months to the Canadian classic, which will be held on September 12.

Coming up JULY 4 is the QUEENSTON STAKES, a traditional early stepping-stone race to the longer Plate ‘preps’ such as the Marine Stakes and Plate Trial.

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The Queenston is a 7-furlong, one-turn race but it is a good starting point for horses who are coming off a layoff. See the nominees for the Queenston at the end of this post. The Fury Stakes is that same weekend and that is the filly counterpart.

The fillies look very good this year (at this point) and some are included on the Plate list and certainly are the top ones for the August 15 Woodbine Oaks.

HALO AGAIN, winner of the biggest race for Canadian-bred 2-year-olds, the Coronation Futurity, is reportedly headed north from Kentucky for the Queenston Stakes. This $600,000 purchase by Speightstown won the 9-furlong Coronation narrowly over Malibu Moon. He raced once in the US over the winter in the Jeff Ruby Stakes and he finished a decent fourth.

Trainer Steve Asmussen has had HALO AGAIN working regularly since then and he shows tons of workouts as he prepares for the Plate trail.

We have liked Elusive Knight for Stronach Stables and trainer Sid Attard seeks his first Plate win.

Kevin Attard and Josie Carroll hold strong hands for both the Plate and the Oaks.

TOP 15 QUEEN’S PLATE CONTENDERS

*Filly/Oaks contender

1. Halo Again 76, 71, 72 – The Coronation Futurity winner is headed back to Woodbine for the July 4 Queenston Stakes. He has been working regularly at Keeneland since his fourth-place finish in the Jeff Ruby Steaks on March 14 at Turfway Park. Trained by Steve Asmussen for Willis Horton and Winchell Thoroughbreds, he was a $600,000 yearling and is by Speightstown, bred by Anderson Farms.

2. Elusive Knight 81, 82, 72 – Have liked this guy since last year and his season debut was solid as he was second in a race against older horses. Like Malibu Mambo, he is a Stronach Stables homebred and he is by top sire Ghostzapper. This guy was second by half a length in the Display Stakes on Dec. 14 for trainer Sid Attard. His 2nd dam Ariege is a Grade 1 winner of the Santa Anita Oaks.

*3. Curlin’s Voyage, 87, 83, 63, is the Champion 2-year-old filly of 2019 and her season debut was super. She was second in the Star Shoot Stakes from off the pace and will be better as she stretches out in distance again.

*4. Merveilleux, 80, 83, 72, is one of two top fillies from 2019 and she had two very close misses in stakes to end her season. Her 2020 opener was very solid as she met older mares, tracked the pace and powered away to a good win with an 80 Beyer Figure.

5. Malibu Mambo 78, 72, 62 – Maiden winner was second in the Coronation Futurity with a strong rally, coming up just a head short of Halo Again. Owned and bred by Stronach Stables, the Point of Entry colt was in Florida in the winter and his return outing at 7 furlongs was decent.

6. Clayton 83, 88– This is another Kevin Attard trainee and a colt by Bodemeister who was a sensational debut winner at five furlongs last November. His season opener on June 14 was messy as he broke steps slow, checked on the turn and then rallied in a 7-furlong race.

7. Auburn Hills 80, 75, 68 – Front running type held on for 3rd in his Woodbine opener recently when behind Elusive Knight. He won his maiden on the lead on turf at Fair Grounds on Feb. 15 and has been off since then. He is a Palace Malice colt owned by Cheyenne Stables and Grandview Equine.

8. Edge of Fire 75, 85, 67 – Chiefswood Stables’ well-bred Curlin colt won his debut in February and has been second and third in one-mile allowance races since then. His run on May 16 at Gulfstream resulted in a 74 Beyer Figure when he was third, beaten 4 1/2 lengths.

9. Tecumseh’s War 79, 65, 74 – This is an improving Summer Front bred by Arika Everatt Meeuse and Tim Meeuse and he won his maiden at one mile on the turf at Indiana Downs last fall. He might have moved too soon in a 7-furlong race when he arrived at Woodbine recently.

*10. Sansa’s Vow, yet another Josie Carroll trainee and this gal won her maiden on June 21 on the grass at Woodbine with a 77 Beyer Figure. It was her second career start and first outing at Woodbine. She is by Broken Vow and out of Mendocino Beano, the dam of champion Mr Havercamp.

11. Dotted Line 80, 81, 65 – This Ontario-sired fellow won his last three races of 2019 including two stakes races. the Kingarvie and Frost King. The son of Signature Red is trained by Sid Attard and he shows a couple of workouts.

*12. Artie’s Princess, 87, 81, 77, is a neck away from being 4 for 4. She was edged in the Frost King Stakes last fall to Dotted Line. She is a monster in sprints, but can she stretch out?

13. Muskoka Giant 54, 55, 68 – Maiden was not as advanced as stablemate Muskoka Gold last year for trainer Mark Casse, but the latter has not had a workout this year and he won’t hit the list until he returns. This guy is by Curlin and he cost $350,000.

14. Perfect Revenge, 53, 63, 75, sneaks into the list since he is winter raced and has joined the John Charalambous team. This guy had a 75 Beyer Figure when 2nd in an allowance race at Gulfstream in January, a dirt race. He won his maiden at Woodbine.

15. Glorious Tribute won his maiden around 2 turns on the Tapeta last fall for Bruce Lunsford with a 69 Beyer Figure. He is nearing his return to racing since he flopped on grass at Tampa Bay Downs.

Who else?

Torpedo Max came from well back to be third in his season debut at 6 1/2 furlongs with a 79 Beyer Figure. He was third in the Frost King Stakes last season to Dotted Line.

*Silent Causeway, big maiden winner on June 14 with an 80 Beyer Figure leading all the way and scoring by 8 lengths. She is a Woodbine Oaks candidate.