It is just over a month until the first Canadian classic race of the 2023 season, the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks, which is for three-year-old Canadian-bred fillies on July 23 at Woodbine at 1 1/8 miles on Tapeta.
There are 32 nominees for the Oaks and the number 1 contender, according to Canadian Thoroughbred, MISSION OF JOY, might not be in town for the race.
Trained by Graham Motion for RyZan Sun Stable and Madaket Stable, the Kitten’s Joy filly has won two Grade 3 races on the grass this year.
Ian Wilson, speaking from Motion’s Herringswell Stables in Maryland, told CT, “She is currently being pointed to the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks. After that start we will make a decision on the likelihood of her going to Canada.”
However, since the Belmont Oaks is on July 8, that would mean Mission of Joy would have to come back in 15 days. Mission of Joy is also eligible for the Canadian Triple Crown and could come for the King’s Plate on Aug. 20.
Another top contender for the Oaks, ANCIENT PEACE, second in the Group 2 Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita on June 3, is stabled in California with John Sadler, who trained Flightline for the Horse of the Year campaign in 2022. Ancient Peace, by War Front, is a two-time winner at one mile on dirt and turf and Travis Boersma’s Boardshorts Stable owns her.
Leading the Woodbine-based contingent is TICKER TAPE HOME, winner of the Fury Stakes by four lengths for Live Oak Plantation and trainer Mark Casse. The Medaglia D’Oro filly has never won at a route distance.
The JULY 1 SELENE STAKE (G3) at 1 1/16 miles could go a long way to yielding a strong Oaks contender. The race is an open event but Ontario-breds such as TITO’S CALLING , WICKENHEISER, DOLCE SOPRESA and FORTYFIVESEVENTY could take part.
On June 11, Zilli Racing Atables’ LADY URUS won her career debut at 7 furlongs on turf with a 78 Beyer Speed Figure. Trained by Steven Chircop, Lady Urus, by Astern (AUS), joins another debut winner, DELPHIA (Mucho Macho Man), trained by Kevin Attard, on the ‘catch-up’ train to the Oaks.
WOODBINE OAKS CONTENDERS
1. Mission of Joy – headed to July 8 Belmont Oaks (G1)
2. Ancient Peace – California based
3. Ticker Tape Home – Fury Stakes winner
4. Big Brass Bed –
5. Wickenheiser – closing 2nd vs. older horses June 4
6. Elysian Field – 2nd Fury Stakes
7. Tito’s Calling – 4th Fury
8. Delphia – debut winner
9. Me and My Shadow – 3rd Fury
10. Fortyfiveseventy – allowance/optional winner
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In KING’S PLATE news, top contender KALIK, a Grade 2 New York stakes winner, is preparing for the Grade 1 Belmont Derby on July 8. The chestnut colt, trained by Chad Brown, has won three straight races on the grass.
STANLEY HOUSE is one of the leading Plate favourites based in Canada. The dark bay son of Army Mule won an allowance race last weekend over older horses and earned a smart 85 Beyer Speed Figure. The colt raced through the stretch on his wrong lead but did gallop out nicely after eventually swapping to his correct lead. The colt is headed to the Plate Trial on July 23.
EQUIVOQUE has not had a workout since he raced in an allowance event on Kentucky Derby day in early May, so his status is up in the air.
GOLD MAGIC, a sensational debut winner in a sprint at Gulfstream Park during the winter before he was unplaced in a comeback outing, is returning from a layoff for a sprint at Woodbine on Sunday.
TWIN CITY, winner of the 7 furlong King Corrie Stakes on May 21, is nominated to the July 1 Marine Stakes.
CANADIAN THOROUGHBRED‘S TOP 15 KING’S PLATE HOPEFULS
1. Kalik (Collected) – Lapenta, eFive Racing, Madaket Chad Brown
2. Mission of Joy (filly) (Kitten’s Joy) – Ryzan Sun, Madaket, Graham Motion
3. Stanley House (Army Mule) – J. & D. Russell – R Aramata, Jr/Mike DePaulo
4. Twin City (Klimt) R. ,R., and B. Mclellan, S. Simon, Stuart Simon
5. Equivoque (Good Magic) – CHC Racing, Todd Pletcher
6. Ancient Peace (War Front) (filly) Boardshorts Stable, John Sadler 7. Northern Invader (Collected) West Point Tbdrs, David Ingordo – Cherie DeVeaux
8. Philip My Dear (Silent Name (Jpn)) – Raroma Stable – Kevin Attard
9. Simcoe (Uncle Mo) Chiefswood Stable, Katerina Vassilieva
10. Abadin (Speightstown) – Three Diamonds Farm, Main Line Racing – Todd Pletcher
11. Gold Magic (Good Magic) – Al and Bill Ulwelling – Kevin Attard
12. Tiburon (Good Magic) WinStar Farm, Siena Farm Kevin Attard
13. Poulin in O T (Reload) Owens and Empress Stable – Steve Owens
14. Wickenheiser (Lemon Drop Kid) C. Schere, A. and B. Ulwelling, Kevin Attard
15. Enjoythesilent (Silent Name (Jpn) Lanni Bloodstock and Daniel Plouffe, Kevin Attard
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