2023 King's Plate Contenders at Woodbine

The 164th edition of King's Plate, North America's oldest continually run race, contested at 1 ¼ miles on the Woodbine Tapeta, is the first event in the tri-surface series for Canadian-bred 3-year-olds.

Seventeen sophomores, including Woodbine Oaks winner Elysian Field, and Plate Trial victor Paramount Prince, both trained by dual hall of famer Mark Casse, will contest the $1 million King's Plate, first leg of the OLG Canadian Triple Crown, highlighting an outstanding stakes-filled Sunday card of racing at Woodbine.

First post for Sunday is 12:25 p.m. (ET), with the featured King's Plate scheduled as Race 10 (5:39 p.m. ET).

Wando, bred and owned by the late Gustav Schickedanz, was the last horse to accomplish the feat, in 2003, while becoming the seventh to record the unique triple. The $400,000 Prince of Wales, run at 1 3/16 miles on the dirt at Fort Erie on September 12, is the second leg. The $400,000 Breeders' Stakes, at 1 ½ miles over the world-renowned E.P. Taylor Turf Course at Woodbine on October 1, concludes the series.

It is also the first time since 1951 that the race will be run as The King's Plate, in keeping with the tradition of naming the race after the ruling British monarch.

The King's Plate breakfast festivities, including the post-position draw, was co-hosted by Woodbine TV personality/commentator/handicapper Jeff Bratt and Woodbine track announcer Robert Geller, and held at Woodbine's Trackside Clubhouse. The event was attended by many of the race's connections, and included remarks from Jim Lawson, CEO of Woodbine Entertainment.

This year's edition of The King's Plate highlights a mix of established stars, and intriguing longshots, talented fillies, colts, and geldings, along with high-profile owners, trainers, and jockeys. The fillies, Elysian Field and Wickenheiser, will each carry 121 pounds, while all other starters carry 126 pounds.

Cool Kiss, a son of Kantharos-Hot Kiss, is one of three (Stanley House and El Cohete is the other) Mike De Paulo trainees. Owned by Newtop Stables, John Russell and De Paulo's son Joseph, the dark bay is 2-2-0 from eight starts. Emma-Jayne Wilson, who won the 2007 Plate with Mike Fox, gets the call.

"We had a partnership years ago called Super Six Stable," recalled Mike De Paulo. "One of the horses in the stable was a mare called Hot Kiss. She was a hard-knocking filly, who won the Trillium Stakes and second in the Maple Leaf. We decided to breed her and her first foal, Repeat the Heat, was a nice horse. Cool Kiss is the second one. He's a character. His mother was a lunatic. This horse, the first time we went to run him, I'm in the Finish Line Bar at Woodbine and I hear there is a scratch in the race, number five. I thought, `Okay, one less horse for us to go up against.' And then I realized that was Cool Kiss. He dropped Emma under the tunnel. But here they are, back together again."

El Cohete ("The Rocket") ,owned by Rocco D'Alimonte and Frank Annecchini, has posted a top-three finish in three of his four starts, including a maiden-breaking performance over 6 ½ furlongs on the E.P. Taylor Turf on June 15. Trained by Mike De Paulo, who also sends out Cool Kiss and Stanley House, the son of Society's Chairman-Diannecantretire was third in his most recent race, at 1 1/16 miles over the Tapeta, on July 30.

"He's a good-feeling horse," noted De Paulo. "He's always been a good work horse. We had a little shin trouble with him last year, but he's been okay this year. We always thought he could run. Hopefully, he shows that again on Sunday."

Elysian Field, trained by dual hall of famer Mark Casse, heads into the Plate off a sterling score in the Woodbine Oaks Presented by Budweiser. The daughter of Hard Spun-Elysian, owned by Team Valor International and Gary Barber, is 2-2-0 from six starts. The chestnut filly was bred in Ontario by Anderson Farms Ont. Inc.

"Coming into a race like this, some horses are thriving and getting better, and that would describe her," said Casse, who won the 2014 Plate with Lexie Lou and the 2018 running with Wonder Gadot.

Kalik, trained by Chad Brown for owners Robert LaPenta, e Five Racing Thoroughbreds and Madaket Stables LLC (the group also owns Moon Landing), will make the Plate his first start in Canada. The son of Collected-Coronation Street won three straight starts, all turf, from March to June of this year, including the Pennine Ridge Stakes (G2T) on June 3. The chestnut is 3-1-0 from six starts.

"With Chad, you know the horse will be in top condition coming into the Plate," said jockey Kazushi Kimura. "To be in The King's Plate is amazing. The race has so much history. You can feel the excitement building and I hope that we can say we won the first King's Plate since 1951. I know I have a big chance with this horse."

A grey son of Mr Speaker-Grey Pride, Kaukokaipuu has been a model of consistency for trainer Ted Holder and Culpepper Island Syndicate. Bred in Ontario by Sean Fitzhenry, the colt is 2-7-0 from 11 starts, including a victory in the 1 1/16-mile Queenston Stakes over the Tapeta on June 11.

"His pedigree says that it is not a problem," said Holder, of the Plate distance. "Mr Speaker was a mile and a quarter, to mile and a half horse on all surfaces, and he is out of a granddaughter of Radiant Ring who is tested at the classic distances in the early to mid-90s."

Owned by Tucci Holdings, Midnight in Malibu, trained by Sid Attard, sprung a 32-1 upset in his most recent race, a 1 1/16-mile race over the Tapeta. The son of Midnight Lute-I Thirtyfive is 2-0-0 from five starts. The dark bay colt broke his maiden over one mile and 70 yards on the Tapeta last December.

"I think he'll go the distance no problem," said Attard. "Every time we work him five or six furlongs, he gallops out strong."

Owned by Robert LaPenta, e Five Racing Thoroughbreds and Madaket Racing Stable LLC, Moon Landing, trained by Kevin Attard, won at first asking, the victory coming at Woodbine over 6 ½ furlongs on the Tapeta. The son of Nyquist-Fragrance, who is 1-0-1 from six starts, was bred by Anderson Farms Ont. Inc. and Rod Ferguson Farms Ltd.

"He really dug down deep in the late running and just missed getting it all," said Attard, of Moon Landing's third-place effort in a 1 1/16-mile Tapeta race on July 23. "We're hoping that he's able to build off that last race and show the type of skill that he does have."

Trained by Renico Lafond for owner Kris Manohar, Morstachy's was a recent $40,000 claim. The son of Mor Spirit-Wekiva Mist, bred by Al and Bill Ulwelling, is 1-3-2 from 11 starts. The bay won in his final start of 2022, a 4 ¼-length triumph at 6 ½ furlongs over the Woodbine Tapeta. The gelding has finished in the top three in four of his past five races.

"His closing speed would be his best attribute to this race, he has an eye-catching turn of foot," praised Lafond. "He is not a big horse, but he covers ground immensely."

A chestnut son of Society's Chairman-Platinum Steel, Paramount Prince heads into The King's Plate off a wire-to-wire, five-length performance in the Plate Trial on July 23. Bred by Ericka Rusnak, the gelding, trained by Mark Casse and owned by Michael Langlois and Gary Barber, is 2-2-1 from five lifetime starts.

"After the race, he kept going, he galloped out a good mile and a quarter so I don't think the distance [for The King's Plate] would be an issue for him," said Casse, of the Plate Trial. "And I think Patrick [jockey, Husbands] let him do it too because we knew down the road, he's going to have to run a little farther."

Canada's champion 2-year-old male Philip My Dear, trained by Kevin Attard for Raroma Stable Inc., is 3-0-2 from seven starts. Last year, the son of Silent Name (JPN)-Involuntary won the Soaring Free and Cup and Saucer, both contested on the E.P. Taylor turf. The colt was bred in Ontario by Adena Springs.

"He's had a tough start this year, but I think he's starting to round into the form that helped earn him a Sovereign in 2022," said Attard.

Bred and owned by RCC Racing Stable, Silent Miracle, 3-0-1 from five races, will test out the stakes ranks for the first time in the Plate. Trained by John Mattine, the son of Silent Name (JPN)-Broken Meadow notched consecutive wins starting last December (in his 2-year-old finale) over 6 ½ furlongs on the Tapeta, before a victory at seven panels on the same surface in his 3-year-old debut this May.

"I think he'll get the distance," said Mattine. "I asked (jockey) Ryan Munger after his last race if he had anything left in the tank and he said yes."

Stanley House, owned by John and Diana Russell, is 2-3-0 from seven starts. Trained by Mike De Paulo, the son of Army Mule-Stormy's Song recorded back-to-back runner-up finishes to start his career in the fall of 2022. His maiden victory came at Gulfstream Park on March 25 at 1 1/16 miles on the Tapeta. Javier Castellano, aboard for that milestone win, will be in the irons again Sunday.

"I liked him when we bought him," said De Paulo, of the $120,000 (U.S.) purchase at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale. "It was a bit of a gamble because he is from a first-year sire and the first foal out of the mare, so you were basically just looking at an athlete. We had him broke in Ocala with Mike Cooke and he liked him all along. Any time this horse did something, he did it well. He's always had a lot of class and showed ability in every work he had."

Touch`n Ride, a Chiefswood Stables homebred, has made just two starts, but both efforts produced pleasing results. After a third to launch his career on July 1, where the son of Candy Ride (ARG)-Niigon's Touch rallied impressively in the one-mile turf race, the bay was even better next time out. Sent off at 9-2 in the 1 1/16-mile Tapeta race on July 30, the gelding romped to a 5 ¼-length score.

"He's been training well," said trainer Layne Giliforte. "My feeling is that we have a fresh horse and fresh legs. Distance and fitness shouldn't be an issue."

Twin City, trained by Stuart Simon, who co-owns with Brent, Russell, and Roy McLellan, brings a record of 2-4-1 from eight starts into the Plate. The son of Klimt-Minnie Apple Is took the King Corrie this May, a nose win in the seven-furlong Tapeta race. Bred in Ontario by Frank Di Giulio, Jr., the bay will be ridden by Gary Boulanger.

"A good quality of his, which will certainly help with the big crowds and all the fanfare on Sunday, is his laid-back demeanour," said Simon. "He's a pretty cool customer, which is a nice quality to have. We're thrilled to have him in The King's Plate."

Bred, owned, and trained by dual hall of fame conditioner Roger Attfield (who is tied with Harry Giddings, Jr. for the most Plate wins by a trainer with eight), Twowaycrossing has run four of his six races on the turf. The son of English Channel-Double Guns Girl won at first asking last October over seven furlongs on the E.P. Taylor turf and is 2-0-0 from seven starts.

"I think he is turning around now, but he's not going into the Plate how I would normally go into a Plate," said Attfield.

Velocitor, a son of Mor Spirit-Polar Plunge, has a mark of 3-1-1 from eight starts for trainer Kevin Attard and owner/breeders Al and Bill Ulwelling. The dark bay won two straight races including last year's Coronation Futurity at 21-1. The gelding finished second in his debut last May before a 7 ½-length romp at the same distance and over the same surface, five furlongs on the Tapeta, next time out in June.

"I was really thrilled with the way he kept on battling to the wire," said Attard, of Velocitor's fourth in the Plate Trial on July 23. "I thought it was a nice effort from a horse who has certainly shown he is capable of running a big race."

Bred in Ontario by Sean Fitzhenry, Wickenheiser (1-2-0 from six starts), named after Canadian hockey icon Hayley Wickenheiser, finished a rallying second to Plate rival Elysian Field in the Woodbine Oaks Presented by Budweiser on July 23. Kevin Attard, who sent Moira out to an Oaks-Plate double last year, trains and co-owns the daughter of Lemon Drop Kid-Game (FR) with Al and Bill Ulwelling, and Clay Scherer.

"We made the decision to name this horse after Canadian hockey great Hayley Wickenheiser," said Attard, who is also a member of Wickenheiser's ownership group. "And as this filly has shown in her career, she's the ultimate competitor. She has been in every race over her career and her two efforts this season have been really encouraging."

Sunday's card also features a trio of standout stakes: the $200,000 Dance Smartly (G2T) (1 1/16 miles on the E.P. Taylor turf for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up), $125,000 Catch a Glimpse (6 ½ furlongs on the E.P. Taylor turf for 2-year-old fillies) and $125,000 Soaring Free (6 ½ furlongs on the E.P. Taylor turf for 2-year-olds).

Casse Duo Climbs in Latest King's Plate Power Rankings

July 28 - Woodbine Entertainment today released its latest King's Plate Power Rankings for the 164th running of Canada's most prestigious horse race.

The 164th King's Plate is the first leg of the OLG Canadian Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing and is scheduled for Sunday, August 20 at Woodbine Racetrack.

The King's Plate Power Rankings provide a look at the current top contenders and is released several times ahead of this year's race. The voting committee for The King's Plate Power Rankings consists of Jeff Bratt (Woodbine Racing Host/Analyst), Monique Vág (Woodbine Racing Host/Analyst), Robert Geller (Woodbine Track Announcer), Ernie Perri (Woodbine Head Clocker/Oddsmaker) and Ron Gierkink (Daily Racing Form).

Each voter submits their own top-10 list and points are awarded to each horse based on their placement (10 points for first through one point for 10th).

Chad Brown trainee Kalik remains at the top of the latest list. The son of Collected recently breezed four furlongs in :48:96 over the dirt at Belmont Park on July 28.

Kaukokaipuu leaps up from fifth to second in the rankings. The Ted Holder student is the most experienced horse on the list, having made 11 starts to this point. Kaukokaipuu has ran second in seven of those 11 starts, with a pair of victories also to his credit. His last start was a runner-up effort in the Grade 3 Marine Stakes on July 1 at Woodbine.

Woodbine Oaks winner Elysian Field makes her debut on the rankings at number three. The Mark Casse trained filly captured the mile and an eighth Oaks by 2 ½ lengths in 1:49.83 for her second win in six career starts. Casse did note immediately after the Oaks that he expected to run Elysian Field in the Plate.

The Casse barn also captured the Plate Trial Stakes last Sunday with Paramount Prince, who appears at number four. Previously ranked number 10, Paramount Prince won the mile and an eighth Plate Trial by five lengths in 1:49.99 for his second win from five starts.

Paramount Prince Leaves Rivals Reeling in King's Plate Trial

July 23 - Paramount Prince, racing beyond seven furlongs for the first time, made all the running and drew off for an emphatic five-length victory under Patrick Husbands in Sunday's 1 1/8-mile Plate Trial at Woodbine Racetrack.

The Plate Trial, a race for Canadian-bred 3-year-olds, is the major local prep for the $1 million King's Plate, which will be run on August 20.

A field of 12 contested the Plate Trial but Paramount Prince left his rivals reeling.

"Looking at the [Daily] Racing Form, it was fun for me," said Husbands, who was riding his fourth Trial winner. "Looking at the race, seeing how it would unfold, all the trainers are going to say, `Take back' and I can get everything my way. And the race unfolded that way."

Paramount Prince carved out fractions of :23.83, :48.58, 1:12.93 and 1:37.40 en route to a final clocking of 1:49.99.

Cool Kiss rallied to take down second money by a head in a photo with closing Twin City.

Velocitor was prominent throughout and finished fourth, just another half-length back in an improved performance, with stablemate Phillip My Dear a length behind in fifth.

Stanley House, sent away as the even-money favorite, trailed the field into the backstretch and launched a wide move around the far turn only to come up empty and finish sixth.

Tiburon, Guns n' Rojas, Forest Buzz, Gran Spirited, Simcoe and Pat's Gamble completed the order of finish.

The Plate Trial win was the fourth for Casse, but his first three were unable to duplicate that success in the King's (now Queen's) Plate. Big Red Mike, in 2010, was the last to convert the double.

Paramount Prince, a gelding by Society's Chairman out of Platinum Steel, was bred in Ontario by Ericka Rusnak. The Ontario-bred gelding was making his fifth career start and third of this season.

"A dream come true, an absolute dream come true," said Rusnak. "I was just hoping he would hold on and he kept pulling away.

"Just having a horse being talked about in the same sentence as the King's Plate... this is a dream come true."

Kalik, Mission of Joy top latest 2023 King's Plate Power Rankings

July 7 - Woodbine Entertainment today released its latest King's Plate Power Rankings for the 164th running of Canada's most prestigious horse race.

The 164th King's Plate is the first leg of the OLG Canadian Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing and is scheduled for Sunday, August 20 at Woodbine Racetrack.

The King's Plate Power Rankings provide a look at the current top contenders and is released several times ahead of this year's race. The voting committee for The King's Plate Power Rankings consists of Jeff Bratt (Woodbine Racing Host/Analyst), Monique Vág (Woodbine Racing Host/Analyst), Robert Geller (Woodbine Track Announcer), Ernie Perri (Woodbine Head Clocker/Oddsmaker) and Ron Gierkink (Daily Racing Form).

Each voter submits their own top-10 list and points are awarded to each horse based on their placement (10 points for first through one point for 10th).

After taking top spot on the first rankings list, Stanley House has now been bumped down to number three, with Kalik and Mission of Joy moving to a tie for the top spot, each receiving the same number of points and first-place votes.

Kalik is scheduled to run this Saturday in the Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational. The Chad Brown trainee is 5/1 on the morning line for the $750,000 race, which is contested at a one and one-quarter mile on the turf.

Competing in his toughest race to date on Saturday, Kalik is a perfect three for three this season, most recently posting a victory in the Grade 2 Pennine Ridge Stakes at Belmont.

Mission of Joy will also be competing Saturday on Belmont's super stakes card. The top-ranked filly for this year's Plate is the 2/1 morning line favourite for the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational, which will also be run at one and one-quarter mile on the turf.

The Graham Motion trained Mission of Joy has multiple graded stakes victories to her name, posting wins in the Grade 3 Regret Stakes on June 3 at Churchill and the Grade 3 Florida Oaks in early-March at Tampa Bay.

Stanley House lands third on the latest list for owners John and Diana Russell. The locally trained three-year-old has been idle since an impressive victory on June 18 at Woodbine.

Stanley House tops initial 2023 King's Plate Power Rankings

June 23 - Woodbine Entertainment today released its first King's Plate Power Rankings for the 164th running of Canada's most prestigious horse race.

The 164th King's Plate is the first leg of the OLG Canadian Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing and is scheduled for Sunday, August 20 at Woodbine Racetrack.

The King's Plate Power Rankings provide a look at the current top contenders and will be released several times ahead of this year's event. The voting committee for The King's Plate Power Rankings consists of Jeff Bratt (Woodbine Racing Host/Analyst), Monique Vág (Woodbine Racing Host/Analyst), Robert Geller (Woodbine Track Announcer), Ernie Perri (Woodbine Head Clocker/Oddsmaker) and Ron Gierkink (Daily Racing Form).

Each voter submits their own top-10 list and points are awarded to each horse based on their placement (10 points for first through one point for 10th).

Local standout Stanley House ranked among each voter's top-three to receive the most points and number one ranking.

Currently running for trainer Ross Armata Jr., Stanley House turned in an impressive victory on June 18 at Woodbine under jockey Luis Contreras. John and Diana Russell's three-year-old colt now has two wins in four starts this season and has finished outside the top-two just once from six career starts.

Chad Brown trainee Kalik is number two on the opening list, receiving a pair of first-place votes and coming up just one point shy of Stanley House. The chestnut son of Collected won the Grade 2 Pennine Ridge Stakes on June 3 at Belmont and is three for three in 2023 (three for five lifetime).

Multiple graded stakes winning filly Mission of Joy is number three for trainer Graham Motion. Receiving two first-place votes, Mission of Joy is three for four this season, posting victories in the Grade 3 Florida Oaks on March 11 at Tampa Bay and Grade 3 Regret Stakes on June 3 at Churchill Downs. Mission of Joy is eligible to the Woodbine Oaks, presented by Budweiser, on Sunday, July 23.

The First King's Plate in Over 70 Years

May 3- Woodbine Entertainment, Canada's largest racetrack operator, announced today that grandstand tickets to the first King's Plate in over 70 years go on-sale to the general public this Saturday, May 6 at 10 a.m., coinciding with King Charles III's coronation. Woodbine Entertainment also unveiled The Plate's new logo today.

The Plate, which is the longest continuously run stakes race in North America and Canada's most prestigious race for three-year old Canadian Thoroughbreds, has been run under the moniker of The Queen's Plate for decades. Following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022 and the accession of King Charles III, Woodbine Entertainment announced in December that it would rename the race to The King's Plate. The race was known as The King's Plate from 1902 to 1951.

"We are thrilled to launch tickets sales and unveil this new brand for The King's Plate which honours tradition while showcasing the prestigiousness of the event in a progressive and contemporary way," said Jim Lawson, CEO of Woodbine Entertainment. "The Plate is Canada's biggest race for Canadian Thoroughbreds, but it's become so much more - a true celebration of our sport and a can't miss social occasion on the Toronto summer calendar. We look forward to celebrating The King's Plate later this year and launch this new era of our marquee event."

This year's 164th running of the $1 million race at Woodbine Racetrack will be contested on Sunday, August 20. Tickets start at $45 and can be purchased by visiting Ticketmaster.ca. Information about tickets for additional event spaces and dining rooms will be made available in the coming weeks.

The Plate is the first of leg of the OLG Canadian Triple Crown and is followed by the Prince of Wales Stakes run at Fort Erie Race Track, and the Breeders' Stakes run at Woodbine Racetrack.

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