The $500,000 WOODBINE OAKS is in less than two weeks (July 19) and the King’s Plate, worth $1 million, is less than a month after that race. The Canadian-bred three-year-old fillies deemed to be of classic ability for 1 1/8 miles have had their final starts before the 71st Oaks and now the last touches are being applied.
There are 30 fillies currently eligible for the Oaks (but supplements can be made at a cost of $12,500 which is non-refundable), but it would be a stretch to think there will be more than seven or eight starters.
The main contenders are:
1.. Luster
2. Dixie Law
3. Katie’s Grace
4. Piper’s Gift
5. Corsia Veloce
6. Bold Time
Other possible entrants – La Culasse.
PIPER’S GIFT (Yorkton) is perhaps better than her 4th-place ranking and she will be going into the Oaks as a fresh horse, having just raced once at Woodbine this year. She won the 7 furlong Fury Stakes for Chiefswood Stables on June 6, her fourth straight win on Tapeta. Chiefswood is expected to also enter BOLD TIME, an impressive maiden winner who was flat in the Selene Stakes next time out.
Trained by Dale Desruisseaux, Piper’s Gift screamed 5 furlongs in company with HIGHWAYTOTHEMOON in 57 4/5 on June 27, certainly faster than one might want a classic contender to work. However, the filly slowed things down in her prep on July 4, 47 4/5.
Champion 2-year-old filly of 2025, CORSIA VELOCE, has been steady with her workouts since her run in the Fury Stakes when an even third. The Practical Joke filly, owned by Glenn Sikura and Mario Serrani, is trained by Josie Carroll.
Carroll has a strong player in LUSTER for the American Gainesway Stable of Antony Beck and Andrew Rosen. This gal won the Grade 3 Selene with ease and she is by Knicks Go.
Desruisseaux also trains multiple stakes winner DIXIE LAW, who was third in the Selene after winning the 7 furlong Ruling Angel Stakes.
And KATIE’S GRACE, trained by Catherine Day Phillips for Americans Chivalry Thoroughbred Racing and Hubert Vester, is a player, as she was a closing second to Luster in the Selene at 34-to-1, wearing blinkers for the first time.
KING’S PLATE TOP CONTENDERS (best Beyer)
1. MAGICAL FACTOR (90)
2. BRACHETTO (90)
3. MILITARY TIME (81)
4. POWELL RIVER (76)
5. BAAEED ALYNNA (61)
6. CASSON (79)
7. HIGHWAYTOTHEMOON (85)
8. BUIUM (76)
9. VERY SPECIAL (72)
The Oaks winner could certainly run next in the Plate, as fillies have won the big one against boys quite a few times.
However, while the number of strong contenders is low, the boys seem to be a step above the girls, in particular MAGICAL FACTOR (The Factor), a feisty gelding trained by Rachel Halden. Owned and bred by Chiefswood Stable, Magical Factor was caught late by Manitoba-bred BRACCHETO in the Grade 3 Marine Stakes. Both fellows would seem to be the top two horses for the Plate.
There are 17 nominations to the Plate Trial, which will be run on Oaks day. MILITARY TIME, by Gun Runner, will likely use that race to see where he ranks among the top three-year-olds, although the field for the Trial figures to be on the very soft side. Chiefswood also has POWELL RIVER (Justify) who is a maiden winner, while speedball HIGHWAYTOTHEMOOON (Ransom the Moon) won the Queenston and has since worked that wild five furlongs with Piper’s Gift.
Plate Trial nominations:
AMORE MIO
gr/ro.g.3 by Cupid(Tapit) – Plenty of Honour(Thewayyouare)
George Bigliardi Pat Parente
BAAEED ALYNNA
ch.c.3 by Good Magic(Curlin) – Pacific Dancer(Stormy Atlantic)
Tagermeen Racing LLC Kevin Attard
BRACHETTO
b.c.3 by Vekoma(Candy Ride (ARG)) – Colorino(Include)
Dr. Ross and Brenda McKague Julia Carey
CALL ME BOND
b.g.3 by Bond Street (IRE)(Galileo (IRE)) – Dancing Doris(One Way Love)
Goldcrest Racing Marjorie A. Paterson
CASSON
gr/ro.c.3 by Caravaggio(Scat Daddy) – Zee Ro Drop(Lemon Drop Kid)
Manfred and Penny Conrad Mark E. Casse
DON IQUE
gr/ro.c.3 by Astern (AUS)(Medaglia d’Oro) – Iquique (FR)(Cacique (IRE))
Michael A. Cooke Josie Carroll
FIRE AND WINE
b.c.3 by Lexitonian(Speightstown) – Double Latte(The Factor)
Paul Ryder Zeljko Krcmar
HIGHWAYTOTHEMOON
b.g.3 by Ransom the Moon(Malibu Moon) – High Society Gal(Society’s Chairman)
Centennial Farms (Niagara) Inc. Dale A. Desruisseaux
IMYOURMEDICINEMAN
b.g.3 by Shaman Ghost(Ghostzapper) – Silent Sparkle(Silent Name (JPN))
Oh Em Gee Stable and Ad Noir, LLC Harold Ladouceur
MAGICAL FACTOR
b.g.3 by The Factor(War Front) – Think Magic(Malibu Moon)
Chiefswood Stables Limited Rachel Halden
MILITARY TIME
ch.c.3 by Gun Runner(Candy Ride (ARG)) – Red Cabernet(Signature Red)
Gary Barber and St. Elias Stable Mark E. Casse
POWELL RIVER
ch.c.3 by Justify(Scat Daddy) – Niigon’s Eclipse(Niigon)
Chiefswood Stables Limited Katerina Vassilieva
SPEIGHTS WILL
b.c.3 by War of Will(War Front) – No Alimony(Speightstown)
6 Deep Stable Steven Chircop
THUNDERMAKER
b.g.3 by Modernist(Uncle Mo) – Miss Matzo(Royal Academy)
X-Men Racing V LLC and Canuck Racing Club Kevin Attard
TWENTYTWO SOLES
dk b/.g.3 by Upstart(Flatter) – Dulce Arabe (CHI)(Speightstown)
Canuck Racing Club Kevin Attard
VERY SPECIAL
b.c.3 by Ghostzapper(Awesome Again) – Crowning Jewel(Into Mischief)
Stronach Stables Kevin Attard
YOSHII
ch.g.3 by Yoshida (JPN)(Heart’s Cry (JPN)) – Dance Play(Malibu Moon)
Centennial Farms (Niagara) Inc. Dale A. Desruisseaux
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