Monday, June 13, 2011
Alex
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| Courtesy: WEG / Michael Burns Photography |
With less than two weeks until the big race and all of the prep races in the books, I narrow down the list of nominees to horses I feel are potential starters for the 2011 Queen's Plate in today's edition of The Queen's Plate Contenders.
UPDATE (June 20, 2011): Check out this list of likely starters for the 2011 Queen's Plate
UPDATE (June 20, 2011): Check out this list of likely starters for the 2011 Queen's Plate
Back on May 1st, the original list of 109 nominees for the 2011 Queen's Plate was trimmed down to 60, as connections wishing to continue on the trail for the Plate were required to pay the second nomination for their horses. Three horses who weren't on the original list became eligible to bring the number of nominees up to 63. The connections for Bear's Chill, Elite Alex and Jojo's Mojo all paid the late nomination fee of $5,000 to be considered for the first jewel in the Canadian Triple Crown. Now, with just two weeks left, the dream for many has ended but a select few are still alive.
In It To Win It
This select few are horses we know will most likely be making an appearance in the Plate on June 26th.
- Check Your Soul: Has to be considered the #1 contender at the moment with his performance in the Plate Trail. The last two Plate Trail winners, Eye of the Leopard in 2009 and Big Red Mike in 2010, have both gone on to win the Plate, so that trend is certainly in his favour. Trainer Roger Attfield is looking for a record ninth Queen's Plate win. Will most likely have Patrick Husbands aboard for the Plate.
- Inglorious: Likely the lone filly to make the field, Inglorious has been dominant against fellow Ontario-bred fillies in her career. Winner of the Woodbine Oaks on June 5th, Inglorious is four for four on Woodbine's polytrack in stakes races. Woodbine's leading rider Luis Contreras will most likely pick up the mount.
- Queen'splatekitten: Queen'splatekitten looked impressive in his final start before the Queen's Plate, winning the Marine Stakes by three lengths back on May 21st. Stakes placed in a Grade III race, along with two others on this list (Inglorious and Elite Alex) after a second place finish in the Grade III Palm Beach Stakes at Gulfstream Park in March. Breezed four furlongs in 48.09 this morning at Belmont Park. Eurico Rosa Da Silva will likely retain mount after guiding him to victory in the Marine Stakes.
Strong Case
This list of horses will most likely make a start in the 152nd running of the Queen's Plate and may have credentials strong enough to beat the top contenders.
- Bowman’s Causeway: Returned from a very disappointing effort in the Grade I Florida Derby at Gulfstream to run a respectable second in the Plate Trial after a two-month layoff. Could certainly make some noise. Da Silva rode him in the Plate Trial but will likely ride Queen’splatekitten. With a strong open mount available, it will be interesting to see who Chad Brown might be able to get to ride.
- Elite Alex: Spent the winter down south racing in Arkansas and Louisiana. Strongest race was in the Grade II Louisiana Derby when he finished fourth behind Kentucky Derby starters Pants On Fire, Nehro and Mucho Macho Man. Disappointed in the Grade I Arkansas Derby and didn’t have a particularly great race at Delaware Park on May 11th. Could make some noise but it will be tough.
- Enduring Star: Broke his maiden last time out, but that was on April 23rd, making it 60 days between starts should he run in the Plate. Has been getting better and better in every start and is back working consistently after a month of no published works or starts. Could be an off the pace consideration and will likely get a decent price.
Outsiders
This list of horses could find their way into the Queen's Plate, but should they start, they will likely not have much of an impact on the final results of the race.
- Hippolytus: A winner at a mile and a sixteenth in his first start of the year in an Ontario-sired allowance race over several others who were nominated, including Control. Respectable performance in the Plate Trial, finishing fourth behind Check Your Soul, Bowman’s Causeway and Strike Oil. Could be on or near the lead as this list does not have a whole lot of speed in it, a running style that could benefit if the track plays the same way it did in 2010.
- Oh Canada: Winner of the Woodstock Stakes to start the year, he followed that performance up with consecutive third place finishes in the Queenston and Marine. A frontrunner, the concern could be whether he has the stamina to the last the distance. Like Hippolytus, running style could benefit from track profile on the day.
- Strike Oil: Ran a good third last time out in the Plate Trial. Winner of the Coronation Futurity as a two-year-old, Strike Oil performed well in an open allowance race on May 8th, finishing fourth by four lengths against Moonshine Mullin and Alpha Bettor who ran 1-2 in the Victoria Park Stakes on Sunday. Will likely be overlooked but could surprise on Plate day.
- Head Honcho: Won a big allowance race on June 1st at one mile and one eighth against several Queen’s Plate hopefuls to give him two lifetime wins. Sat back behind slow fractions in that race so speed is a concern, but he closed nicely in that victory and will likely be given an opportunity to try his luck.
Longshots
This list of horses look like longshots to make it to the gate for the Queen's Plate, but are ones I thought deserved an extra look.
- Celtic Conviction: Mainly bred for turf, but you couldn’t blame the connections for giving it a shot against this field. He would likely be the top speed consideration amongst this group as well. Given the right track conditions, he could surprise but may not make it to the gate.
- Control: Certainly a longshot, but thought he should be included on my list after finishing second to both Hippolytus and Head Honcho in two separate Ontario-sired allowance races by a combined one and one half lengths. Has been very competitive with those two over the course of his career and if they’re being considered, no reason why he can’t be as well. Strong breeding in his bloodlines as his great grandfather is Northern Dancer.
Who you do believe will make it to the Queen's Plate and who do you think has the best shot to win? Leave your comments below...
I think for the time being, I will be riding the Check Your Soul bandwagon, but I'm certainly a fan of Inglorious and would love to see her beat the boys. This field certainly lacks quality top to bottom, but I'm hopeful we'll still have a great race on June 26th. The field should begin to clear up over the next few days so make sure you visit (and bookmark!) At The Post for the latest Queen's Plate updates.
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