Check Your Soul Impressive In Plate Trial Victory

Check Your Soul, pictured, used a strong performance in Sunday's Plate Trail to stamp himself as a favourite for the 152nd Queen's Plate. Courtesy: WEG / Michael Burns Photography

Check Your Soul overcame a difficult start and battled back to dominate the Plate Trail Stakes on Sunday at Woodbine. Check Your Soul took command at the top of the stretch from Bear's Chill in the one mile and one eighth prep for the 152nd Queen's Plate, coming up on June 26th, and cruised down the stretch to a three and one quarter length victory.

While Check Your Soul appeared to miss the early break, Bear's Chill, Sensational Slam and Sandy Gully immediately went to the lead and began taking the field through the first turn. Bear's Chill assumed command up front and took the field through an opening quarter of 24.70.

Sandy Gully began to make a move along the backstretch to challenge Bear's Chill and the two ran neck in neck into the final turn after a half mile in 49.27. Check Your Soul quietly made his move along the backstretch, taking advantage of a slower second quarter to make up some ground on the leading group.

The slow fractions in the second quarter of the race appeared to prove something about the two horses who led through the first half mile. As the field turned for home, Bear's Chill and Sandy Gully immediately tired and faded, while Check Your Soul, Bowman's Causeway and Strike Oil began to make their runs for the wire.

However, it was Check Your Soul who made the best move, winning the Plate Trial by three and one quarter lengths in 1:51.16. Bowman's Causeway bounced back well to finish second in the Plate Trial after finishing way back in the Florida Derby in April. Strike Oil finished third and Hippotylus would complete the superfecta.

While it appeared Check Your Soul may have trouble overcoming his difficult start, his trainer, Roger Attfield, wasn't too concerned.

"Actually, I was kind of glad he missed the break," said Attfield. "I wanted him to come from off it (the pace). It was nice to see him run that way."

Jockey Patrick Husbands also didn't have any trouble with Check Your Soul after the slow start.


"He's still learning, I didn't really worry about it (the slow start)," said Husbands. "You look at the past performances. He comes from way out of it. Every time I ride him, you can do anything with this horse. I hope he comes back good and keep our fingers crossed that we can get to the Plate."

Check Your Soul, a home-bred for Charles Fipke, now looks to be one of the favourites for the Queen's Plate on June 26th. The Plate Trial has proved to be a great prep to win, as in each of the last three years, the winner of the Plate Trial has gone on to win the big prize in the Queen's Plate. Overall, 25 Plate Trial winners in 68 total Plate Trial races have gone on to win the Queen's Plate. Check Your Soul also has the hall of fame trainer Attfield in his corner. Attfield is tied for the all-time lead with eight Queen's Plate wins as a trainer and will look to take the overall lead with Check Your Soul three weeks from now. Attfield and Fipke also combined to capture the 2008 Queen's Plate with Not Bourbon.

Check out the replay of the race below...

Posted in: CYS,Queens Plate,Woodbine