Woodbine will host the 165th version of the King’s Plate Stakes on Saturday, Aug, 17. The $1 million race is likely one of the highest-profile occasions in Canadian sports activities in addition to the oldest constantly run race in North America.
Based in 1860, the King’s Plate is traditionally named in honor of the reigning monarch. Held because the Queen’s Plate from 1952 to 2022 in honor of Queen Elizabeth II, the race was renamed the King’s Plate for 2023 after the accession of King Charles III following his mom’s passing Sept. 8, 2022.
The King’s Plate is the primary leg of the Canadian Triple Crown and is adopted by the Prince of Wales Stakes run at Fort Erie Race Observe, and the Breeders’ Stakes run again at Woodbine.
Twelve horses have swept the Canadian Triple Crown races (though the Triple Crown was not formally established till 1959): Queensway (1932), Archworth (1939), Uttermost (1945), Ace Marine (1955), Canadian Champ (1956), New Windfall (1959), Canebora (1963), With Approval (1989), Izvestia (1990), Dance Neatly (1991), Peteski (1993), and Wando (2003). Queensway and Dance Neatly are two of the 38 fillies to prevail within the Queen’s Plate, with the latest feminine winner being Moira in 2022 for coach Kevin Attard.
America’s Finest Racing will preview the 165th version of the Canadian basic race on-site from Woodbine Friday, Aug. 16 with our “King’s Plate Preview Livestream” hosted by Dan Tordjman and Maddy Playle. The livestream is tentatively set to begin at 4 p.m. ET and can function visitor handicappers and racing personalities. Tordjman and Playle will return Aug. 17 for a “King’s Plate Pre-Sport Dwell Present” with a tentative begin time of three p.m. ET and extra particular company.
1. Jokestar (20-1 morning-line odds)
Jockey: Emma-Jayne Wilson
Coach: Kevin Attard
House owners: Al and Invoice Ulwelling
Profession file: 8 begins – 1 win – 1 second – 2 thirds
Profession earnings: $74,789
Earnings per begin: $9,349
Prime Equibase Velocity Determine: 94
Pedigree: Sensible Joke – Starmaline, by Star Guitar
Shade: Bay
Operating model: Nearer/stalker
Notable achievements and attention-grabbing info: The bay Sensible Joke gelding sometimes offers an sincere effort in his races and is within the combine on the finish, however he has not gained usually and completed unplaced most just lately in his stakes debut. Within the Plate Trial Stakes, Jokestar handed a couple of horses to attract inside 4 lengths of the lead however flattened out late whereas fifth, 5 ¼ lengths behind winner My Boy Prince. His velocity figures point out he’s quick sufficient to be aggressive with a prime effort, however rounding out the trifecta or superfecta at a giant value is likely to be the ceiling for Jokestar if he will get a quick tempo to arrange his closing kick. Coach Kevin Attard gained this race in 2022 with Moira; jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson’s solely King’s Plate victory to this point got here on Mike Fox in 2007.
2. Rafaroo (8-1)
Jockey: Ryan Munger
Coach: Harold Ladouceur
Proprietor: Stronach Stables
Profession file: 2 begins – 0 wins – 2 seconds – 0 thirds
Profession earnings: $38,210
Earnings per begin: $19,105
Prime Equibase Velocity Determine: 93
Pedigree: Arduous Spun – Gentle Inexperienced, by Pleasantly Excellent
Shade: Darkish bay or brown
Operating model: Nearer/stalker
Notable achievements and attention-grabbing info: Rafaroo is the least skilled runner within the discipline for the King’s Plate with solely two begins, each second-place finishes. Though nonetheless looking for his first win, Rafaroo enters the Canadian basic off a runner-up end at 26.70-1 odds to possible favourite My Boy Prince within the Plate Trial Stakes July 20 at 1 1/8 miles on the all-weather Tapeta Footings floor. Given that is simply his third begin, you possibly can make an argument that no entrant within the 2024 King’s Plate has as a lot upside as Rafaroo, a full brother (similar dam [mother], similar sire [father]) to 2019 Saratoga Particular Stakes winner Inexperienced Gentle Go. On the similar time, he’s dealing with the perfect competitors of his profession and stretching out to 1 ¼ miles with little or no basis whereas needing to enhance to be a severe contender. It could be straightforward to take a look at a maiden and dismiss his possibilities within the King’s Plate, however that is likely to be a expensive mistake with Rafaroo who has a fantastic shot to outrun his odds for proprietor Stronach Stables (Frank Stronach), which gained the King’s/Queen’s Plate beforehand with Basqueian (1994), Superior Once more (1997), Shaman Ghost (2015), and Holy Helena (2017). Rafaroo and Vitality might be coach Harold Ladouceur’s first King’s Plate starters.
3. Essex Serpent (2-1)
Jockey: Patrick Husbands
Coach: Mark Casse
House owners: Manfred and Penny Conrad
Profession file: 3 begins – 2 wins – 1 second – 0 thirds
Profession earnings: $135,565
Earnings per begin: $45,188
Prime Equibase Velocity Determine: 100
Pedigree: Honor Code – Eileen’s Woman, by Medaglia d’Oro
Shade: Bay
Operating model: Press the tempo
Notable achievements and attention-grabbing info: Essex Serpent enters the King’s Plate off a front-running, one-length victory within the Grade 3 HPIbet Marine Stakes June 29 at 1 1/16 miles on the all-weather Tapeta Footings floor at Woodbine. That victory and its ensuing 100 Equibase Velocity Determine stamp the Honor Code colt a prime menace to win the primary jewel of the Canadian Triple Crown and provides Corridor of Fame coach Mark Casse his fourth profession win within the King’s Plate. Essex Serpent has proven velocity in his two wins from three begins and overcame a sluggish begin in his different race, the seven-furlong Queenston Stakes, to complete second. Casse’s earlier three wins within the race got here with Lexie Lou (2014), Surprise Gadot (2018), and Paramount Prince (2023). Jockey Patrick Husbands gained aboard Lexie Lou and Paramount Prince and added a 3rd win in 2003 aboard Canadian Triple Crown winner Wando.
4. Caitlinhergrtness (12-1)
Jockey: Rafael Hernandez
Coach: Kevin Attard
House owners: Siena Farm and WinStar Farm
Profession file: 6 begins – 2 wins – 1 second – 1 third
Profession earnings: $187,010
Earnings per begin: $31,168
Prime Equibase Velocity Determine: 94
Pedigree: Omaha Seaside – Belatrix, by Big’s Causeway
Shade: Chestnut
Operating model: Stalker
Notable achievements and attention-grabbing info: Caitlinhergrtness enters the King’s Plate off a runner-up end by a neck within the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks Introduced by Stella Artois during which she led into deep stretch and earned a brand new career-best Equibase Velocity Determine in defeat. That was her first strive on the all-weather Tapeta Footings floor at Woodbine as her two victories got here at a mile on the primary monitor at Aqueduct in September 2023 and in a turf race at Woodbine July 6 in her remaining prep for the Woodbine Oaks. The filly from the primary crop of 2019 Arkansas Derby winner Omaha Seaside now takes on males within the King’s Plate for coach Kevin Attard, who gained the race with the filly Moira two years in the past, and figures to be one of many favorites. Jockey Rafael Hernandez was aboard Moira for her win on this race in 2022 and likewise gained with Shaman Ghost in 2015. Caitlinhergrtness hails from the household that produced essential European sire Shamardal in addition to Road Cry, the sire of famous person Zenyatta.
5. Midnight Mascot (10-1)
Jockey: Kazushi Kimura
Coach: Mark Casse
House owners: Manfred and Penny Conrad
Profession file: 8 begins – 2 wins – 2 seconds – 3 thirds
Profession earnings: $173,873
Earnings per begin: $21,734
Prime Equibase Velocity Determine: 97
Pedigree: Military Mule – Midnight Embrace, by Midnight Lute
Shade: Chestnut
Operating model: Stalker/nearer
Notable achievements and attention-grabbing info: Midnight Mascot has made his final 5 begins in stakes races for Corridor of Fame coach Mark Casse and his most up-to-date race is likely to be his greatest to this point. The Military Mule colt closed from 11 lengths off the tempo to complete third, overwhelmed by two size by Essex Serpent, within the Grade 3 HPIbet Marine Stakes June 29 at Woodbine. He was unplaced in his lone earlier strive round two turns in November 2023, so this was a pleasant enchancment for the stakes-winning sprinter as evidenced by the career-top 97 Equibase Velocity Determine. Midnight Mascot had beforehand raced a lot nearer to the tempo in his races, so will probably be attention-grabbing to see if new jockey Kazushi Kimura makes an attempt to order stamina for one massive late run within the King’s Plate, a tactic that was efficient within the Marine Stakes. Midnight Mascot profiles as considered one of a number of severe contenders for Casse, who has three earlier wins within the King’s/Queen’s Plate with Lexie Lou (2014), Surprise Gadot (2018), and Paramount Prince (2023). Midnight Mascot’s dam (mom), Midnight Embrace, is a full-sister (similar sire and dam) to 2013 Queen’s Plate winner Midnight Aria.
6. Pleasant Ghost (30-1)
Jockey: Justin Stein
Coach: Evette Chartrand-Hoek
Proprietor: Sue Leslie
Profession file: 3 begins – 1 win – 1 second – 1 third
Profession earnings: $63,009
Earnings per begin: $21,003
Prime Equibase Velocity Determine: 92
Pedigree: Outwork – Kin’s Ghost, by Ghostzapper
Shade: Darkish bay or brown
Operating model: Press the tempo
Notable achievements and attention-grabbing info: Pleasant Ghost posted a second and a dominant win in his first two races in sprints earlier than stretching out in distance for the $150,000 Plate Trial Stakes July 20 at Woodbine. The Outwork gelding set a pressured tempo and held a transparent lead in early stretch earlier than fading late a ending third at 15.40-1 odds. That Plate Trial expertise ought to give Pleasant Ghost extra basis for his second strive in a race round two turns, however he might want to stretch his velocity an extra eighth of a mile within the King’s Plate. With a bit much less early stress and a modest step ahead, Pleasant Ghost might be a stay longshot within the King’s Plate. One attention-grabbing pedigree word is that Pleasant Ghost’s dam (mom), Kin’s Ghost, is a half-sister (similar dam, totally different sire) to this yr’s Woodbine Oaks Introduced by Stella Artois winner Kin’s Concerto. Jockey Justin Stein gained the primary jewel of the Canadian Triple Crown in 2012 on Strait of Dover. Pleasant Ghost would be the first King’s Plate starter for coach Evette Chartrand-Hoek.
7. My Boy Prince (7-5)
Jockey: Sahin Civaci
Coach: Mark Casse
Proprietor: Gary Barber
Profession file: 10 begins – 6 wins – 2 seconds – 1 third
Profession earnings: $605,529
Earnings per begin: $60,553
Prime Equibase Velocity Determine: 107
Pedigree: Cairo Prince – Hopping Not Hoping, by Silent Title
Shade: Grey or roan
Operating model: Stalker/press the tempo
Notable achievements and attention-grabbing info: Three-time King’s/Queen’s Plate-winning coach Mark Casse seems to carry a formidable hand for this yr’s race, led by My Boy Prince. The highest earner within the discipline and a five-time stakes winner, My Boy Prince rides a three-race successful streak into the 2024 King’s Plate. He dominated the seven-furlong King Corrie Stakes by 6 ¾ lengths in Could and the Queenston Stakes on the similar distance by 4 ½ lengths in June. My Boy Prince enters off a 1 ¼-length win within the $150,000 Plate Trial Stakes and has confirmed class on the prime stage with top-three finishes in a pair of Grade 1 turf races as a 2-year-old, together with a 3rd within the Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. The quickest and most completed 3-year-old within the 2024 King’s Plate discipline, My Boy Prince appears like a worthy favourite for Casse and proprietor Gary Barber, who teamed to win this race in 2014 with Lexie Lou, 2018 with Surprise Gadot, and in 2023 with Paramount Prince, who Barber owned in partnership with Michael Langlois. Jockey Sahin Civaci, at present main the 2024 Woodbine meet in each wins and earnings, completed second within the King’s Plate final yr on Elysian Discipline.
8. Pierre (20-1)
Jockey: David Cohen
Coach: Kevin Attard
House owners: Al and Invoice Ulwelling
Profession file: 4 begins – 1 win – 1 second – 2 thirds
Profession earnings: $65,596
Earnings per begin: $16,399
Prime Equibase Velocity Determine: 90
Pedigree: Tapiture – Archerette, by Arch
Shade: Bay
Operating model: Nearer
Notable achievements and attention-grabbing info: Evenly raced Pierre would want to take a serious step ahead in his stakes debut to be a respectable menace within the King’s Plate, however he has proven promise in 4 begins, all top-three finishes. He made an eye catching rally in his most up-to-date begin, a 1 1/16-mile turf race, however flattened out a bit in deep stretch when fading to 3rd. He earned his greatest Equibase Velocity Determine to this point in that race, however he would want to enhance by about 15 factors whereas switching again to an all-weather most important monitor and dealing with the perfect competitors of his profession. A quick tempo would considerably increase Pierre’s possibilities of a minor award for coach Kevin Attard, who gained this race in 2022 with Moira. Jockey David Cohen will make his King’s Plate debut in 2024.
9. Thor’s Trigger (50-1)
Jockey: Jeffrey Alderson
Coach: Krista Cole
House owners: Joe Pignatelli, Spirit’s Path Administration, and Alan McMullen
Profession file: 8 begins – 0 wins – 0 seconds – 3 thirds
Profession earnings: $21,458
Earnings per begin: $2,682
Prime Equibase Velocity Determine: 84
Pedigree: Brody’s Trigger – Expressly Yours, by Huge Brown
Shade: Bay
Operating model: Nearer
Notable achievements and attention-grabbing info: Thor’s Trigger enters the 2024 King’s Plate having earned a career-best 84 Equibase Velocity Determine in a July 19 maiden particular weight race at 1 1/16 miles on the all-weather floor at Woodbine. He completed fourth in that race and is winless in eight begins with three third-place finishes to his credit score. This clearly is a tricky spot for a 3-year-old to attempt to earn his first profession victory and the Brody’s Trigger gelding most likely would want to enhance his velocity determine by about 15 factors simply to vie for a top-three end. On a optimistic word, Thor’s Trigger’s dam (mom), Expressly Yours, is a half-sister (similar dam, totally different sire) to 2016 Canadian Horse of the Yr and champion 3-year-old filly Caren, who gained two legs of the Canadian Triple Tiara. Thor’s Trigger might be coach Krista Cole’s first King’s Plate starter.
10. Bedard (30-1)
Jockey: Pietro Moran
Coach: Kevin Attard
House owners: X-Males Racing III, Madaket Stables, and SF Racing
Profession file: 6 begins – 0 wins – 3 seconds – 0 thirds
Profession earnings: $43,219
Earnings per begin: $7,203
Prime Equibase Velocity Determine: 87
Pedigree: Nyquist – Purpose, by Quiet American
Shade: Bay
Operating model: Stalker
Notable achievements and attention-grabbing info: Bedard is called after the primary general choose within the 2023 NHL Draft, the Chicago Blackhawks’ reigning Calder Trophy winner as Rookie of the Yr Connor Bedard. A colt by Nyquist (likewise named for an NHL star), Bedard has but to attain the success of his namesake with nary a win to his credit score in six races. On the intense aspect, his final three begins have been his greatest three to this point, all runner-up finishes, in a stretch that coincided with a change from turf sprints to route races on the all-weather Tapeta Footings most important monitor at Woodbine. It could be a shock to see him safe for his first profession win on this first jewel of the Canadian Triple Crown, however coach Kevin Attard gained the King’s Plate in 2022 for this precise possession group with Moira and Bedard has improved his Equibase Velocity Determine in all six of his races. Bedard might be jockey Pietro Moran’s first starter within the King’s Plate.
11. Roar of the Crowd (50-1)
Jockey: Fraser Aebly
Coach: Domenic Polsinelli
Proprietor: Dominic Polsinelli
Profession file: 4 begins – 1 win – 0 seconds – 1 third
Profession earnings: $25,839
Earnings per begin: $6,460
Prime Equibase Velocity Determine: 80
Pedigree: Reload – Uproar, by Hail the Ruckus
Shade: Chestnut
Operating model: Press the tempo
Notable achievements and attention-grabbing info: This half-brother (similar dam [mother], totally different sire [father]) to Canadian champion Pender Harbour, a twin basic winner in 2011, has competed solely in dash races to this point. The 1 ¼-mile King’s Plate might be his first begin in a race longer than 6 ½ furlongs, his first strive towards stakes-level competitors, and his first race towards winners. He would want to spice up his greatest Equibase Velocity Determine by 20-25 factors to be a bona-fide contender and figures to vie for the longest odds among the many contenders for the primary jewel of the 2024 Canadian Triple Crown. Roar of the Crowd would be the first King’s Plate starter for each coach Domenic Polsinelli and apprentice jockey Fraser Aebly.
12. No Extra Choices (30-1)
Jockey: Daisuke Fukumoto
Coach: Zeljko Krcmar
Proprietor: Mary Self
Profession file: 9 begins – 3 wins – 0 seconds – 4 thirds
Profession earnings: $139,018
Earnings per begin: $15,446
Prime Equibase Velocity Determine: 94
Pedigree: Frac Daddy – Stoney Miss, by Birdstone
Shade: Darkish bay or brown
Operating model: Stalker
Notable achievements and attention-grabbing info: No Extra Choices gained a stakes race sprinting on the all-weather Tapeta Footings floor at Woodbine as a 2-year-old. After a turf win at Woodbine in Could, he completed third behind My Boy Prince within the Queenston Stakes, overwhelmed by 4 ½ lengths by the presumptive King’s Plate favourite. In his remaining prep for the primary jewel of the Canadian Triple Crown, the Frac Daddy colt pale to sixth within the Plate Trial Stakes. It could be a tall order to show the tables on My Boy Prince after he was soundly overwhelmed by that acquainted foe in his final two races, however No Extra Choices’ Equibase Velocity Figures are aggressive with the remainder of the sector and he has an opportunity to fill out the trifecta at a pleasant value. His dam (mom), Stoney Miss, by Birdstone, is a half-sister (similar dam, totally different sire) to 80.80-1 upset 2022 Kentucky Derby Introduced by Woodford Reserve winner Wealthy Strike. Each have been produced by Canadian champion Gold Strike, No Extra Choices’ grandam (maternal grandmother). Jockey Daisuke Fukumoto guided Mighty Coronary heart to victory on this race in 2020; No Extra Choices would be the first King’s Plate starter for coach Zeljko Krcmar.
13. Vitality (20-1)
Jockey: Jose Campos
Coach: Harold Ladouceur
Proprietor: Stronach Stables
Profession file: 7 begins – 1 win – 1 second – 1 third
Profession earnings: $66,562
Earnings per begin: $9,509
Prime Equibase Velocity Determine: 92
Pedigree: Road Boss – Belissimo, by Superior Once more
Shade: Chestnut
Operating model: Nearer
Notable achievements and attention-grabbing info: A gelding from the household of 2000 champion turf feminine Excellent Sting, that yr’s Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf winner, Vitality earned his first profession win in his seventh begin July 19 in a 1 1/16-mile maiden race on the all-weather floor at Woodbine. The 92 Equibase Velocity Determine he earned in victory was a nine-point leap from his earlier greatest and he most likely would want one other comparable step ahead to compete for a top-three end within the King’s Plate towards the perfect competitors he has confronted in his profession. Proprietor Stronach Stables (Frank Stronach) has gained the King’s/Queen’s Plate 4 instances beforehand with Basqueian (1994), Superior Once more (1997), Shaman Ghost (2015), and Holy Helena (2017). Vitality and Rafaroo might be coach Harold Ladouceur’s first King’s Plate starters.
