Las Vegas, NV - The richest and most prestigious race on Canadian soil - the 155th edition of the Queen's Plate Stakes goes down Sunday, July 6 at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto Ontario. The first leg in Canada's Triple Crown features three years olds willing to go 1 1/4 miles on Woodbine's All Weather track for a nice purse of $1 million.
A large field of 15 have been confirmed for the Queen's Plate - race 11 on Woodbine's Sunday schedule. Post time is 5:38 PM. Here is a look into the past performances of all 15 entries for this unlisted stakes which happens to be the biggest race on Canadian soil.
We Miss Artie 8-5 - Todd Pletcher hopeful is coming off a nice win over Majestic Sunset in the minor Plate Trial Stakes here June 15 which followed a pedestrian tenth in the Kentucky Derby. Before the Derby was a career best effort - a win in the Grade 3 Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park March 22 after an eighth in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream February 22. He also had a respectable second in the minor Kitten's Joy Stakes January 19 and a somewhat disappointing seventh in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Before the Breeders' Cup was a terrific win in the Grade 1 Dixiana Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland October 5. He has certainly been up and down in his career but is the most seasoned entry for this year's Queen's Plate - a win on this track in the Plate Trial has We Miss Artie the obvious morning line favorite. Javier Castellano rides from post 6.
Lexie Lou 4-1 - the only filly in the field is coming off a terrific 4 1/2 length win in the Woodbine Oaks (in faster time than We Miss Artie's Plate Trial time) here June 15 for trainer Mark Casse - one of her four wins in 11 career starts to go along with two seconds and two third place finishes. Before the Oaks was a third in the minor Fury Stakes, a fourth in the Star Shoot Stakes, a third in the Ontario Lassie Stakes and another win in the South Ocean Stakes back in November. She seems to be peaking at just the right time and will have Patrick Husbands in the saddle from gate 14.
Matador 6-1 -highly regarded Mark Casse trained colt most recently won an Allowance Optional Claiming by six lengths here May 28 after a somewhat disappointing seventh in the Grade 3 Derby Trial Stakes at Churchill Downs in April. He also had a sixth in the Grade 1 Florida Derby March 29, a fifth in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby March 8, a fourth in the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes February 1 and a disappointing sixth after encountering interference in the minor Coronation Futurity at Woodbine November 17. He had a great win in the Cup and Saucer Stakes at here October 20 to follow an OK third behind Go Bro in the Grade 2 Summer Stakes also on this track September 14 but hasn't been great since. Matador has placed in just one of his last six starts (a win last time out here) and despite racing against some top fields could be overmatched in this one. Regular rider Julien Leparoux has the call the morning line third choice from the 10-hole.
Ami's Holiday 10-1 - Josie Carroll trained colt broke maiden at first asking and recorded win the Grade 3 Grey Stakes at Woodbine October 6. He has two minor stakes starts after that - a disappointing seventh after being DQ's as favorite in the Coronation Stakes November 17 and an OK third in the Display Stakes December 8. He is coming off a second in the minor Marine Stakes on this track May 25 after a fourth to Mr Speaker in the Grade 3 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland in April. Ami's Holiday looks for his first win since October with Luis Contreras in the reins from the outside post.
Asserting Bear 10-1 - Reade Baker trained colt hasn't been great in his career - he has 10 career starts with just two wins, a second and two third place finishes finished. He did have a second in the minor Kingarvie Stakes December 7 and a win in the Coronation Futurity in November but also has a pair of ugly eighths including two back in the Grade 1 Blue Grass to go along with a fifth in the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes. He is coming off a third last time out in the minor Marine Stakes May 25 - that's about it for the optimism. Chantal Sutherland-Kruse has the call from post 4.
Majestic Sunset 15-1 - finished second most recently behind We Miss Artie in the Plate Trial Stakes here June 15 after three MSW on three different track produced a second and a pair of sixth place finishes. He did have an OK second behind Asserting Bear in the minor Coronation Futurity on this track in November but hadn't looked good before a nice effort last time out. Majestic Sunset has yet to post victory in nine career starts but has three seconds and two third place finishes. Gary Boulanger will be in the irons.
Queen's Plate Stakes betting online at Woodbine Racetrack with OffTrackBetting.com
Coltimus Prime 20-1 - two-time stakes-placed winner raced to a disappointing ninth in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby March 8 and a fifth in the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes in April but has looked much better since. He is coming off an Allowance score in this track after a second in a similar race in May. Coltimus Prime looks to be in OK form ahead of this weekend and will have Jesse Campbell in the reins from gate 7.
Tower of Texas 20-1 - Roger Attfield trained colt is coming off an OK third behind We Miss Artie in the Plate Trial Stakes after a second in the minor Marine Stakes May 25 and after finally breaking maiden May 10 in his sixth career start. He has placed in six of eight starts in his career with a win, three seconds and two third place finishes. Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez will be in the saddle from post 12.
Man o' Bear 30-1 - Reade Baker trained colt most recently raced to a fifth in the Plate Trial Stakes here June 15 after seven months away and an OK third in the minor Coronation Futurity on this track in November. He has just one win in six career starts with three third place finishes and will have Emma-Jayne Wilson, the only female jockey in the race aboard from gate 5.
Lions Bay 30-1 - Jamie Attard trainee will try to bring down a few of Jamie's father's entries this weekend. Lions Bay has just three career starts with two wins and a second place finish - two straight wins coming into this weekend. He steps into stakes company for the first time however with David Moran guiding him from post 8.
Niigon Express 30-1 - Paul Attard trainee has two wins, two seconds and a third place finish in six career starts but steps into stakes company for the first time Sunday. Last time out was a second in an Allowance Optional Claiming on this track June 15 after an Allowance score May 11 also here. Gerry Olguin has been tabbed to ride from gate 13.
Heart to Heart 30-1 - Brian Lynch trained colt is coming off a disappointing sixth in the minor Marine Stakes on this track May 25 after an Allowance score at Keeneland in April. His career best result was a second in the minor Vandal Stakes here in August. Jockey Eurico Rosa da Silva will have to weave some magic Sunday from post 9.
One Destiny 30-1 - has just three career starts for trainer Alec Fehr - all at Woodbine. Last time out was a third in an Allowance June 8 after a MSW score in May and a third in a MSW in his debut - back in April. David Garcia will be in the saddle from gate 11.
Cap in Hand 50-1 - Sid Attard trained colt will step into stakes company for the first time Sunday having recorded a win, a second and a third place finish in four career starts. Last time out was a third in an Allowance Optional Claiming June 15 after breaking maiden on this track May 24. Steve Bahen will ride from the rail.
Athenian Guard 50-1 - broke maiden in his second career start - on this track in December - the only time he's placed in four career start. He hasn't been great since - a DNF in an Allowance last time out followed a fourth in a similar race in May. Justin will ride Athenian Guard from post 3.
Race 11 on Woodbine Racetrack's Sunday card with a Post Time of 5:38 PM.
Entry | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | ML Odds |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Cap in Hand | S. Bahen | S. Attard | |
2 | Coltimus Prime | J. Campbell | J. Nixon | |
3 | Athenian Guard | O. Moreno | M. De Paulo | |
4 | Asserting Bear | C. Sutherland Kruse | R. Baker | |
5 | Man o' Bear | E. Wilson | R. Baker | |
6 | We Miss Artie | J. Castellano | T. Pletcher | |
7 | Majestic Sunset | G. Boulanger | M. Casse | |
8 | Lions Bay | D. Moran | J. Attard | |
9 | Heart to Heart | E. Da Silva | B. Lynch | |
10 | Matador | J. Leparoux | M. Casse | |
11 | One Destiny | J. Stein | A. Fehr | |
12 | Tower of Texas | J. Velazquez | R. Attfield | |
13 | Niigon Express | G. Olguin | P. Attard | |
14 | Lexie Lou | P. Husbands | M. Casse | |
15 | Ami's Holiday | L. Contreras | J. Carroll |