Queen's Plate Update: Girls v. Boys and Local Jocks v. Import Jocks

When the 150th running of the Queen's Plate goes to post this Sunday there should be two fillies trying to take the prize away from their male counterparts. Milwaukee Appeal and Tasty Temptation battled to a feisty one-two finish in the Woodbine Oaks in a race that proved equally as competitive as the Plate Trial won by Eye of the Leopard over the now injured Southdale. It is still unclear whether or not Milwaukee Appeal will join the Plate field, but her effort in the Oaks is certainly worthy of the $25K late entry fee. The Plate favourite should come from that trio of runners though there will be no shortage of entrants in Canada's premier race for three year-olds.

Milwaukee Appeal hits the wire in front on Tasty Temptation in the Woodbine Oaks


Possible entrants, listed alphabetically, for Sunday's event include: (* = filly)

ACTIVE DUTY
BUCEPHALUS
COSTALIVIN
EL BRUJO
EYE OF THE LEOPARD
FLIP FOR THE COIN
KEINO WEST
*MILWAUKEE APPEAL
MR FORICOS TWO U
RAPID RELEASE
SHUT IT DOWN
STARDUST ZIGGY
*TASTY TEMPTATION

Jockey Russel Baze is making the trip to Woodbine to ride Shut It Down. Baze joins fellow import jockeys Mike Smith (Mr. Foricos Two U)and Stewart Elliott(Milwaukee Appeal)invading the local Woodbine colony for Sunday's feature event.

The horses have been putting in their final works as their handlers look to add a last touch of foundation and perhaps teach a few new tricks to their charges that will all be trying the classic distance of a mile and a quarter for the first time.

Keino West breezed six furlongs in 1:12.20 on Saturday, while Plate Trial winner Eye of the Leopard breezed the same distance on Sunday in 1:13. El Brujo, who disappointed in the Plate Trial while trying new stalking tactics, worked a quick five furlongs in 59.80 for trainer Malcolm Pierce.

Earlier this morning long shot possibility Stardust Ziggy stretched six furlongs in 1:13.40. Stardust Ziggy reminds this writer a wee bit of 1986 Plate winner, Golden Choice, as both horses were maidens going into the big event and both carry a late-running style that suits the classic distance. Jerry Baird will be aboard the gray colt for trainer Lorna Perkins.

The "smart" money will be backing Roger Attfield's three year-old colt Rapid Release. Attfield has won the Queen's Plate on eight occasions, including the 2008 event with Not Bourbon, and will attempt a Plate repeat this year with jockey Jono Jones. Rapid Release, bred in Ontario by Shyman Racing Stables, broke his maiden on July 6, 2008 in a seven-furlong race run in 1:25.48 at Brighton in England. Since moving to Woodbine, Rapid Release has been consistently improving finishing third on two separate occasions in three starts each run at a distance of a mile and a sixteenth or further. The most recent outing was a third place finish in the Plate Trial.

It should be noted that 33 fillies have captured the Queen's Plate so do not let your handicapping get lost in a battle of the sexes. Should Milwaukee Appeal make this event, she should certainly be your Plate favourite. Post-positions for the Queen's Plate will be drawn on Thursday morning.