MONDAY LATE NEWS – WASHINGTON DASH will be entered in Plate, to make 15 runners. The Smart Strike – Pretty Dutch colt, trained by Darrin Miller for Silverton Hill of Tom and Bonnie Hamilton. The couple won the Play the King Stakes last year with HAVELOCK, sporting their pink and black silks. Darrin Miller trains….
MONDAY MORNING JUNE 18 – temps rising for the next few days (weather alert for Thursday has the air quality at a bad level) so get ready to sweat…Queen’s Plate week kicks off, stories and stories abound in this year’s race…
It’s US vs. Canada when it comes to jockeys and owners in the 153rd Queen’s Plate. here, American owner ROBERT S EVANS leads in IRISH MISSION, who won the Oaks under Alex Solis, a former top rider in California.
Cindy Pierson Dulay photo
QUEEN’S PLATE BBQ TODAY
Corey Nakatani to ride Colleen’s Sailor in Plate
The Queen’s Plate barbecue is a unique tradition that was inaugurated years ago by Ontario Jockey Club publicity of years ago. It has been maintained since then and is a fun kick off to the Plate week.
7 horses will parade today but not STRAIT OF DOVER, RIVER RUSH or MACHO WHISKEY. However, the connections of the first 2, the first 2 favourites, should be in attendance for the media to ask questions.
John Velazquez got hurt at Churchill Sat. night and is off for a while, Corey Nakatani, who rode Colleen’s Sailor in his allowance win at Woodbine, is back on board (Velazquez was riding 4 for Attfield on Plate day).
Colleen’s Sailor is owned by a Florida farm owned by Sal and Colleen Simeone, formerly Seasoft Farm and now Terra si Sienna. They have had numerous trainers over the years and won the Woodbine Oaks with Kimchi (Mark Casse) several years ago.
BIG CREEK, a starter for trainer Todd Pletcher, is also American-owned, and he has not had a workout since his Plate Trial run. He has been based at Saratoga.
THE PLATE FIELD
BIG CREEK
dk b/.c.3 by Indian Charlie(In Excess (IRE)) – Major Idea(Cherokee Run)
Green Hills Farm Inc. Todd A. Pletcher
*American-owned, owner and jock have not won Plate
*Owner and trainer have won Plate
CLASSIC BRYCE
dk b/.c.3 by Grand Slam(Gone West) – Classic Stamp(Regal Classic)
William Sorokolit Darwin D. Banach
*Owner and trainer seeking 1st Plate win
COLLEEN’S SAILOR
b.c.3 by Northern Afleet(Afleet) – Colleen’s Scorpion(Scorpion)
Terra Di Sienna Stables Roger L. Attfield
*American owned, owner has not won Plate, Attfield going for no, 9
DIXIE STRIKE,
B.F. Dixie Union – Noble Strike
John Oxley Mark Casse
*Owner and trainer seeking first Plate win
GOLDEN RIDGE
ch.c.3 by Distorted Humor(Forty Niner) – Indian Vale(A.P. Indy)
Melnyk Racing Stable Inc. Mark E. Casse
*Trainer seeks first Plate win
IRISH MISSION
ch.f.3 by Giant’s Causeway(Storm Cat) – Misty Mission(Miswaki)
Robert S. Evans Mark R. Frostad
*American owned, Frostad has won several Plates
MACHO WHISKEY, (would have to be supplemented for $25,000)
g. Macho Uno – Whiskey and Low
Harlequin Ranches Reade Baker
*Owner/trainer seek first Plate win, filly Gold Strike came close
MAKING AMENDS
b.c.3 by Repent(Louis Quatorze) – Primary Motive(Prime Timber)
Quintessential Racing Florida LLC, Horse’nAround Racing Stable & R. Lederman Mark E. Casse
*Casse seeks first Plate win as do owners
PEYTON
dk b/.g.3 by Tale of the Cat(Storm Cat) – Emanating(Cox’s Ridge)
Windhaven Michael J. Doyle
*Owner/trainer looking for 1st Plate
RIVER RUSH
b.c.3 by Orientate(Mt. Livermore) – Sweet Tart(Lemon Drop Kid)
Stronach Stables Reade Baker
*Trainer seeks first Plate, as does Jock
STRAIT OF DOVER
dk b/.c.3 by English Channel(Smart Strike) – Bahrain Star(Danzig)
Canyon Farms Daniel J. Vella
*Owner/jock seek first Plate win
ULTIMATE DESTINY
ch.g.3 by Dance to Destiny(Mr. Prospector) – One On Tap(Pleasant Tap)
Brenda K. Selwyn-Waxman Michael Keogh
*Owner seeks first Plate
PRINCE RAPHAEL,
b.c. Shakespeare – Yankee Dandy
Doug Reddington, C Oslen Debbie England
*Owners/trainer/jock seek first Plate
WILCOX
Giant’s Causeway – Checker Hall
Eugene MelnyK, Josie Carroll
*Trainer has won 2 of last 3 Plates
PENDER HARBOUR SURPASSES $1 MILLION
SETTING SAIL – Pender Harbour wins the Steady Growth Stakes to become Ontario’s latest millionaire. Norm Files photo
A slow pace and a tight rail trip did not hold pack champion PENDER HARBOUR from getting back on track at Woodbine on Sunday. The 4yo son of Philanthropist – Uproar went over $1 million in earnings as he edged out GOOD BETTER BEST in the Steady Growth Stakes, for Ontario sired runners.
His Beyer Figure was 81.
Trainer Mike DePaulo looked relieved at the end of the 1 1/16 mile race as it was pretty hairy for some time as the gelding tried to get past a stubborn ‘Best.
Pender Harbour joins the following Ontario sired millionaires:
RAHY’S ATTORNEY
REGAL CLASSIC
JOHNKARANOTEGAMI
VICTOR COOLEY
FINANCINAGAVAILABLE
EISHIN MISSOURI
KIRIDASHI
FROST KING
SAND COVE
BRASS IN POCKET
BOLD RURITANA
STEADY POWER
KRZ RUCKUS
FRANKEL GETS ROYAL ASCOT ROLLING TOMORROW!!
you can watch on HPI TV
Tuesday, Royal Ascot, Britain, post time: 2:30 p.m.
QUEEN ANNE S.-G1, £350,000, 4yo/up, 1mT
SC PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY TRAINER
1 6 Bullet Train (GB) Sadler’s Wells Mongan Cecil
2 3 Excelebration (Ire) Exceed & Excel (Aus) J O’Brien A O’Brien
3 8 Frankel (GB) Galileo (Ire) Queally Cecil
4 10 Indomito (Ger) Areion (Ger) Buick Wohler
5 11 Premio Loco Prized Baker Wall
6 4 Red Jazz K Johannesburg M Hills C Hills
7 5 Side Glance (GB) Passing Glance (GB) Fortune Balding
8 1 Strong Suit K Rahy R Hughes Hannon
9 7 Windsor Palace (Ire) Danehill Dancer (Ire) Heffernan A O’Brien
10 2 Worthadd (Ire) Dubawi (Ire) Dettori Prescott
11 9 Helmet (Aus) Exceed & Excel (Aus) Barzalona Al Zarooni
