Super Sunday at Woodbine: Plate Trial Field Announced

Woodbine will play host to two crucial prep races for the Queen's Plate on Sunday. One is a $75K MSW and the other is the Plate Trial Stakes - both races are run at a distance of a mile and an eighth.


The Plate Trial promises to be an absolute cracker of a race with ten horses slated to carry 126lbs, some trying two turns for the very first time. El Brujo, trained by Malcolm Pierce, will be the likely favourite based on his convincing back-to-back wins in the Achievement and Queenston Stakes. Although, El Brujo is in top form and has the benefit of jockey Patrick Husbands, the Trial is going to be a difficult test.

El Brujo winning the 2009 Queenston Stakes


The contenders for the Trial are:

Rapid Release - The son of Action This Day spent his two year-old campaign racing in England winning once, but in the money five times in seven starts. The colt is trained by Roger Attfield who is looking for a record 9th win in the Queen's Plate.

Eastern Promise - More European flair here as this horse raced five times in France. Trained by Mark Frostad for owner Earle Mack, Eastern Promise bulleted through five furlongs in 59.80 on Wednesday with jockey Chantal Sutherland in the irons. Jeremy Rose will ride in the Plate Trial as Sutherland is committed to Costalivin.

Active Duty - Listed as my stable star for Woodbine's Queen's Plate Fantasy Contest, Active Duty put in a solid effort in the Queenston which should have him ready for Sunday's race. Active Duty won the Coronation Futurity at this distance last Fall beating El Brujo in the process.

Southdale - Those who read my blog regularly will have been following the exploits of the strapping black colt owned by Rod and Margaret Ferguson. Click here to read past entries regarding Southdale. Trained by Ian Black and ridden by Emma-Jayne Wilson, Southdale will be looking to try two turns for the first time and build on a massive 88 Beyer from his maiden breaker last out.

Bucephalus - Trainer Kevin Attard trains the up-and-down Bucephalus for the Knob Hill Stable. The son of Cape Canaveral broke his maiden in the Clarendon Stakes defeating El Brujo at a distance of 5 ½ furlongs. Bucephalus would disappoint as the even-money favourite next out in the six furlong Vandal Stakes tiring to finish last in a race won by Win and Reign. Bucephalus returned as a three year-old with a promising third place finish in the Achievement Stakes but was a non-factor in the Queenston as the Jekyll and Hyde form of Bucephalus continues to confuse punters.

Keino West - Blinkers on for this closer who will surely appreciate the added distance of the Trial after a disappointing sixth place finish in the Queenston. Keino West broke his maiden in a stunning last to first charge rallying past ten horses to win by a nose at a mile and a sixteenth. Jockey Grrry Olguin will be steering this one through the stretch.

Thor's Piper - Trained by Eric Coatrieux who won the 2004 Queen's Plate with Niigon, the Chiefswood Stable home bred will be ridden by Jim McAleney. Thor's Piper broke his maiden in a 1 1/16M maiden race last out. The well-bred son of Thunder Gulch could offer good value to punters on Sunday.

Costalivin - Trained by John Ross for Jam Jar Racing Stable, this colt is always in the mix near the wire finishing in the money in seven of eight starts as a two year-old. Costalivin continued his cash-friendly style in 2009 finishing second in his opener before winning his last start over Collerosa and Flip For The Coin at 1 1/16M.

Eye of the Leopard - Sam-Son Farms colt Eye of the Leopard is a well-bred son of A.P. Indy out of Eye of the Sphynx. After an unimpressive debut in Keeneland, Eye of the Leopard redeemed himself with a recent win in a maiden allowance wiring the field through 1 1/16 miles earning a 74 Beyer Figure in the process. Sam-Son Farms have won the Queen’s Plate on four occasions.

As exciting as the Plate Trial will be, the under card race is going to be a major talking point as twelve maidens knock heads in a wicked MSW. Some of the notable Plate contenders include:

Yorkville - Another entry from a solid collection of Chiefswood Stables three year-olds. (See Thor's Piper above, and there'll be more in future posts regarding Oaks contender Gore Bay.) Yorkville finished fourth in his last outing and will look to improve here off that result. Jono Jones gets the ride.

Dr. Funkenstein - P-Funk fans nod their heads in approval to Kingview Farms colt Dr. Funkenstein who made Triple Dead Heat's Outrageous Odds list (see link on the top left of this blog) on April 18th this year when finishing second at 60-1. (Kingview Farms also brought racing fans the musically monikered Van Lear Rose - we thank you very much Mr. Richard Day, keep the names coming!) The third and fourth place finishers from that race, Quiet Approval and Gallant, are both entered here.

Quiet Approval - Also from Kingview Farm, the gelding raced three times as a two year-old which included a rail-rousing seventh to Keino West (though beaten less than five lengths) after a slow start. Chantal Sutherland rides for trainer Catherine Day-Phillips.

Gallant - I do not believe this horse is Queen's Plate eligible, but Gallant will be a factor with the dynamite pairing of Patrick Husbands and trainer Mark Casse.

Stardust Ziggy - "Ohhh yeah, Ziggy raced at Woodbine jammin' good with Jerry (Baird) and Lorna (Perkins.)" This big grey could be a bit of a sleeper in the Queen's Plate picture.

Dance Into Heaven - Hunch bettors will be boxing the Funkenstein, Ziggy and Dance Into Heaven triactor on Sunday. You simply cannot ignore a horse entered by Sam-son Farms. The three year-old gelding will have a chance to strut his stuff for trainer Mark Frostad and jockey Eurico Rosa Da Silva.

Also entered in the MSW are D'Artagnan, Carcillo, Candy Games, Oliver's Strike, Big Brown Brewski and Pure Attitude.

Mr. Hockey, Gordie Howe, will be at Woodbine on June 18th to make the draw for the Queen's Plate. Keep your head up racing fans!