Ten weeks to the King’s Plate and several top contenders on CANADIAN THOROUGHBRED‘S KING’S PLATE Contenders’ List are racing this weekend.
One Canadian-bred hoping to get in a race this weekend, but won’t, is TOM’S MAGIC, a flashy chestnut son of American Triple Crown winner Justify from the Canadian mare Dixie Chicken, He was entered to try a tough field in the Pennine Ridge (G3) at Belmont-at-Saratoga on Saturday, Belmont Stakes day, but heavy rain on Saturday will not be to the colt’s liking. Instead, trainer Mike Stidham worked the colt half a mile on Friday morning at Delaware. Bred by Sean and Dorothy Fitzhenry of Toronto, Tom’s Magic is owned CJ Thoroughbreds and Mo Speed Racing.
From NYRA press office:
Fair Grounds winter form lines also go through CJ Thoroughbreds and Mo Speed Racing’s Tom’s Magic [post 5, Ben Curtis], a one-sided winner of its Black Gold Stakes in March. Entering for the always-capable barn of Mike Stidham, he exits a perplexing no-show when ninth of 12 in the Grade 3 Transylvania. Despite such, the son of Justify has connections’ objective confidence and confident objective pointing north.
“We’re looking to bounce back with him because he didn’t show up at Keeneland and I have a feeling that might have been because he wasn’t happy on that soft course,” Stidham said. “He trained very well before and very well after. Being an Ontario-bred, our goal with him is the King’s Plate and this is a good spot to get him there. It just depends on the weather with him.”
Interestingly, the 2021 King’s Plate winner Safe Conduct finished fourth in the Pennine Ridge (in the slop) on his way to Plate glory.
At WOODBINE on Sunday, the 70th QUEENSTON STAKES at 7 furlongs has drawn Plate hotshots NOTORIOUS GANGSTER and MANSETTI. The seven-horse field has two entries each from Kevin Attard, Josie Carroll and Mark Casse and one from Gord Colbourne.
Mark Dodson’s Notorious Gangster was a closing second in the 6 furlong Woodstock Stakes in his opener. He won the Coronation Futurity last year at nine furlongs. Fraser Aebly rides for trainer Carroll.
Speedball Mansetti won the Woodstock and will be tough on a repeat, especially since he is only going one furlong longer. He is an Attard trainee for Al and Bill Ulwelling.
Attard also sends out DEWOLF with first-time Lasix for the X-Men racing IV and Canuck Racing Club. The Silent Name (Jpn) colt has been working like the wind this spring and he was second in the Grade 3 Grey and Coronation last year. Rafael Hernandez, who has ridden him in every start, is not riding and instead will be on Forty N Five. Pietro Moran will ride Dewolf.
Meanwhile, Moran rode Mansetti to win the Woodstock, but Leo Salles, who won on the colt last year, is back on board.
Casse’s pair are both owned by Nancy Guest. LUCKY GUEST, by Yoshida (Jpn), won his maiden at 6 furlongs on May 3 on the pace and it was his second career race. REGAL GUEST, a full brother to the great Pink Lloyd, won an optional event in his return at six furlongs. Sahin Civaci rode both to their wins and has elected to partner Lucky Guest. Patrick Husbands will ride Regal Guest.
The Queenston winners do not often go on to win the Plate.
Not Bourbon did it in 2008, Woodcarver in 1999 and Victory Cooley in 1996 – and those are the most recent Queenston/Plate winners.
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The Fury Stakes on Saturday has just five entrants including heavily-favoured SHIFTY, currently a solid favourite for the Woodbine Oaks. Shifty is a speedy gal owned by D.J. Stable and trained by Mark Casse and she goes against Princess Elizabeth Stakes winner Aristella.
Moira won the Fury and went on to take the Oaks and the Plate in 2022.
CT’s Leading King’s Plate and Woodbine Oaks Contenders
1. Notorious Gangster – Trained by Josie Carroll, won Coronation Futurity, fast-closing second in Woodstock
2. Mansetti – Trained by Kevin Attard, won the Woodstock Stakes
3. Tom’s Magic – Trained by Mike Stidham, won Fair Grounds stakes race, troubled in Transylvania Stakes last start, looking for a race
4.. Scorching – Trained by John Charalambous, won Cup and Saucer, back to working, up to half a mile
5. Ashley’s Archer – Trained by Mark Casse, second in Tampa Bay allowance in ’25 debut, idle since May 11 work
6. Dewolf – Trained by Kevin Attard, stakes winner at two, second in Coronation, entered in Queenston off sizzling works
7. Faber – trained by Kevin Attard/William Morey, 2nd Turfway, 74 Beyer, solid second in 2 turn return
8. Love and Poetry (f)– trained by Cherie Deveaux, 2nd LaCombe Memorial on turf, FG
9. Shifty (f) – Catch a Glimpse S., 3rd Grade 3 Grey, strong sprint win in seasonal bow in Fury S.
10. Aristella (f) – won Princess Elizabeth, Rachel Halden, trainer, fair effort in Ruling Angel S., in Fury S.
11. Mythical Man – Reeves Racing, Danny Gargan trainee showed promise at two, working at Saratoga
12. No Time (f) – posted a 79 Beyer Figure winning an allowance race at Woodbine
13. Souper Tuscan – in Florida, 2nd to Mansetti in debut, C2 Thoroughbreds new co-owners; idle
14. Street Princess (f) – Maiden winner at two turns for Kevin Attard
15. Monterrey – unraced, Brad Cox working this colt at Indianapolis
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