2016 Queen's Plate Preview, Entries & Odds

OffTrackBetting.com - Canada's richest and most prestigious race - the Queen's Plate comes our way this Sunday, July 3 from Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. Some of the best three year olds in the land have been assembled to go 1 1/4 miles on Woodbine's All Weather Track for the winner's share of the impressive $1 million purse.

A large field of 13 have been confirmed for the Queen's Plate - race 10 on Woodbine's stacked Sunday card. Post time is 5:36 PM. Here is a peek into the past performances of all 13 entries for this historic and lucrative stakes.

2016 Queen's Plate Race Preview at Woodbine Racetrack

Amis Gizmo 3-1 - runner-up for Canada's top 2-year old in the Sovereign Award voting has an impressive five wins (all stakes) in six career starts for trainer Josie Carroll. He easily won the Plate Trial Stakes last time out by 2 1/2 lengths June 12 over many of his Queen's Plate foes and also posted victories in the Kingarvie Stakes, the Frost King Stakes and the Bull Page Stakes. His only hiccup came two starts back when he finished fifth in the minor Wando Stakes here in April - he rebounded very nicely from that loss. Outside of on uncharacteristic outing Amis Gizmo has been untouchable and hopes to be again Sunday. Luis Contreras gets the call on the morning line favorite from gate 10.

Leavem in Malibu 7-2 - rapidly improving horse has placed in all three career starts for trainer Mark Casse - two wins and a third place finish - all at Woodbine. He has won two straight races ahead of this weekend - an Allowance against older horses last time out May 29 and a maiden score May 1. He arrives off a decent rest, has looked great in works leading up to this race and is expected to be in the mix with Gary Boulanger in the saddle from gate 4.

Bet Woodbine Horse Racing with OffTrackBetting.com

Shakhimat 5-1 - has three wins, a second and a third place finish in six career starts for trainer Roger Attfield. He made his graded stakes debut April 8 and promptly won the Grade 3 Transylvania Stakes at Keeneland and went on to a very disappointing ninth in the Grade 2 American Turf Stakes at Churchill Downs in May. Last time out was a respectable second as favorite in the Plate Trial Stakes on this track June 12. He's also posted an incredible 9 3/4 length win in the minor Coronation Futurity November 8, a runner-up finish in the minor Cup and Saucer Stakes October 11 and a maiden score at first asking in September. Shakhimat has been in every race so far, except for one and should be a factor Sunday as one of the most experienced entries. Emma-Jayne Wilson gets the call from gate 6.

Gamble's Ghost 6-1 - Josie Carroll trained filly started her career in a big way - winning her debut, finishing second behind eventual Horse of the Year, Catch a Glimpse in the Grade 2 Natalma Stakes in September, winning the Grade 3 Mazarine Stakes in October and finishing second in the minor Princess Elizabeth Stakes in November. She has been decent lately as well - a second last time out after encountering unfortunate traffic in the Woodbine Oaks here June 12 followed a good win in the Grade 3 Selene Stakes on this track May 15 and a slight step back however - a sixth, just two lengths back in the Grade 3 Florida Oaks at Tampa Bay March 12. Gamble's Ghost has been very good against some top fields and goes against the boys for the first time Sunday at a very intriguing 6-1 odds. Patrick Husbands will be in the reins from an unfortunate outside post 13.

Esposito 8-1 - Tom Proctor trained colt has two wins and two third place finishes in four career starts at four different tracks. He arrives on the heels of an impressive Allowance Optional Claiming score here June 5 after a six month layoff, a respectable third in the minor Remington Springboard Mile in December and a maiden score at Del Mar in November. Esposito has been good in his career so far and chases his first stakes win from post 11 Sunday. Alan Garcia gets the call from gate 11 hoping to make a bit of noise in his two-turn debut.

Scholar Athlete 12-1 - has two wins and two third place finishes in eight career starts for trainer Graham Motion. He finished third in the minor Coronation Futurity on this track in November and went on to a third in an Allowance Optional Claiming February 6, a sixth in the Grade 3 Palm Beach Stakes February 27 and a fifth as second choice in the minor Rushaway Stakes in April. Last time out was a nice Allowance Optional Claiming score in gate-to-wire fashion at Belmont Park May 12. Scholar Athlete arrives rested and off a career best effort and will have Jose Ortiz in the irons from gate 12.

All On Red 12-1 - debuted in March at Gulfstream and finished an ugly eighth only to come back and post a maiden score at Aqueduct a month later for trainer Sid Attard. His only other career start was an OK second in an Allowance Optional Claiming on this track in June. All On Red has been decent so far and is expected to at least challenge Sunday with Eurico Rosa Da Silva guiding him from post 3.

Sir Dudley Digges 15-1 - has placed in seven of eight career starts for trainer Michael Maker - one win, three seconds and three third place finishes. He finished a respectable third last time out in the Plate Trial Stakes here June 12 after a maiden score at Keeneland and a pair of runner-up finishes in MSW races at Gulfstream. He looked good on this All Weather Track and could reasonably improve Sunday. Julien Leparoux will try to give Sir Dudley Digges his biggest win to date from post 5 and has to be encouraged.

Narrow Escape 30-1 - Justin Nixon trained colt has two wins and a second place finish in five career starts - all at Woodbine. He enters on a nice two race win streak - an Allowance in gate-to-wire fashion last time out June 11 and a maiden score October 7 - in career best form. Narrow Escape has been decent for sure but could find his step up a bit too much to handle. Sheena Ryan has been tabbed to ride from gate 2.

Mike 30-1 - has a win and two third place finishes for trainer John LeBlanc - all on this track. He enters off consecutive thirds in Allowance races after a seventh and a maiden score at first asking in November. The full brother to the very good Pender Harbour but looks to be in over his head as one of the longest shots in the field. David Moran gets the call from the rail.

Cheburashka 30-1 - Robert Tiller trained colt has two wins, a second and a third place finish in six career starts - all on this track. He enters off a fourth place finish after setting the pace and fading behind All On Red in an Allowance Optional Claiming June 11 and two straight wins - an Allowance May 14 and a maiden score in November. He has been good in his last three starts, despite an average outcome last time out and could surprise Sunday. Rafael Manuel Hernandez will be in the reins from post 9.

My Name is Jim 30-1 - has a win and a third place finish in three career starts for trainer Reade Baker - all on this track. He makes his stakes debut off a maiden score in gate-to-wire fashion by 4 1/2 lengths last time out June 11 after a third and a tenth respectively in MSW races earlier this year. He looked great last time out and hopes that race is a sign of things to come. Jesse Campbell gets the call from post 7.

Rocket Plan 30-1 - has a win, a second and a third place finish in seven career starts for trainer John LeBlanc - all at Woodbine. He enters off a second in an Allowance June 4 and a maiden score May 6 - his sixth career start. Rocket Plan wasn't great early on but seems to be improving with ever race. Simon Husbands has been tasked with keeping that trend going from gate 8.

---

2016 Queen's Plate Entries & Odds

Race 10 on Woodbine's Sunday card with a Post Time of 5:36 PM.