King's Plate: Luster Faces Intense Competition Despite Leading Position
This Saturday, the racing world's attention turns to Woodbine for the 167th running of the King's Plate. This event marks the opening of the Canadian Triple Crown series for three-year-old Canadian-bred horses. The competition features a dozen formidable contenders, including the exceptional filly Luster, all vying for the esteemed $1 million purse. Additionally, the day's card is enriched with five other significant stakes races, promising a thrilling spectacle for horse racing enthusiasts.
King's Plate: A Detailed Look at the Contenders
The highly anticipated King's Plate, a 1 1/4-mile challenge on Woodbine's primary track, forms the first leg of a tri-surface series. The subsequent legs include the $500,000 Prince of Wales Stakes, held over 1 3/16 miles on dirt at Fort Erie on September 7, and the $500,000 Breeders' Stakes, covering 1 1/2 miles on the E.P. Taylor turf at Woodbine on September 27. The last horse to sweep this demanding series was Wando in 2003. The atmosphere surrounding the King's Plate has been electric, highlighted by a lively post-position draw on the Woodbine paddock rooftop. Woodbine handicapper Jeff Bratt and Ignite World Racing host Mark McKelvie co-hosted the event, attended by numerous connections and graced by remarks from Woodbine Entertainment CEO Michael Copeland.
This year's lineup showcases a captivating blend of proven stakes winners and promising long shots. The field boasts an array of leading owners, breeders, trainers, and jockeys. Notably, fillies Luster and Dixie Law will carry 121 pounds, receiving a weight allowance against the male horses, who will carry 126 pounds. Luster, trained by Josie Carroll, a Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee and three-time Plate winner, enters the race in stellar form following her impressive 5 1/2-length triumph in the 1 1/8-mile Woodbine Oaks on July 19, completing the race in 1:50.99. This daughter of Knicks Go, from the Ruby Frost mare The Factor, holds a remarkable record of 4 wins and 1 third-place finish from 5 starts for Gainesway Stable and Andrew Rosen. Her early career saw victories at Woodbine in 2025 and Keeneland, followed by a third-place finish in the Ruling Angel Stakes in May. Carroll expressed her confidence in Luster, stating, "She's a very, very athletic horse. She actually exceeded what I expected in that race." Jockey John Velázquez will once again be aboard Luster, who is groomed by Brandon Duchaine.
Kevin Attard, a three-time Plate winner, fields two contenders: Baaeed Alynna and Very Special. Baaeed Alynna, a chestnut colt by Good Magic out of the Stormy Atlantic mare Pacific Dancer, makes his third stakes start after a sixth-place finish in the Plate Trial on July 19. Attard noted, "Whatever you ask of him, he's happy to oblige. He is a horse that has a lot of talent. He is lightly raced, but that said, he is showing us every sign that he can handle the Plate distance." Sahin Civaci rides Baaeed Alynna, bred by Saintsbury Farms and owned by Tagermeen Racing, with Beresford Lee as his groom.
Bond Market, a chestnut gelding trained by Carlos Grant, surprised many with a 45-1 debut victory over a mile on Woodbine's inner turf on July 5. Grant commented on Bond Market's enthusiasm for racing, saying, "He loves to do his job, he loves to work, he just loves to get out of the stall and get on the track." Xarel Forde, who piloted Bond Market to his maiden win, will be in the saddle again, with Damien Kellman as groom.
Brachetto, a Manitoba-bred colt, emerged as a top Plate contender with a sharp win in the Marine Stakes (G3) on June 27 for trainer Julia Carey. This bay colt has an impressive career record of 5 starts, with 2 wins, 1 second, and 2 thirds. Ross McKague, who bred and co-owns Brachetto with his wife Brenda, hopes to see Brachetto become the first Manitoba-bred to win the Plate. Ryan Munger will ride Brachetto, groomed by Gary Sutherland.
Dixie Law, a graded stakes-winning bay filly with a record of 4 wins, 1 second, and 1 third from 8 starts, represents owner and breeder Garland Williamson and trainer Dale Desruisseaux. Desruisseaux also campaigns Highwaytothemoon. Dixie Law's impressive resume includes victories in last year's Cup & Saucer Stakes and Mazarine Stakes (G3), and this year, she won the Ruling Angel and finished second in the Woodbine Oaks. Pietro Moran, who rode Mansetti to Plate glory last year, will be her jockey, with Kyle MacDonald grooming her.
Don Ique, a roan colt trained by Josie Carroll, has compiled a 2-0-1 record from 7 starts. Bred by Jeffrey Yingling, this son of Astern showed strong form with two consecutive wins before finishing fifth in the Plate Trial. Carroll initially thought Don Ique was off the Plate trail but changed her mind after his strong gallop-out in the Plate Trial. Emma-Jayne Wilson, a 2007 Plate winner, will ride, and Mario Williams grooms the colt.
Fire and Wine, the most experienced runner in the field with a record of 2 wins and 3 thirds from 10 starts, caused an upset in last year's Coronation Futurity Stakes. Trainer Zeljko Krcmar believes Fire and Wine is in top shape, saying, "He's good. He's sound. He's healthy. He likes to run. He's brave on the front." Jalon Samuel will be the jockey, and Tafari Chang is the groom.
Highwaytothemoon, trained by Desruisseaux and owned by Niagara Farms, has an excellent record of 4 wins, 1 second, and 1 third from 7 starts. This bay gelding, bred by James Everatt, Janeane Everatt, and Arika Everatt-Meeuse, won consecutive stakes in the Queenston and Plate Trial. Rafael Hernandez, a three-time Plate winner, will ride Highwaytothemoon, groomed by Robert Martin.
Imyourmedicineman, a multiple stakes-placed bay gelding, enters the Plate after a strong runner-up performance in the Plate Trial. Co-owned by trainer Harold Ladouceur and Jessie Ladouceur, this son of 2015 Plate winner Shaman Ghost broke his maiden in his second start. Harold Ladouceur adjusted his training regimen, believing the gelding performs better when held back and then allowed to unleash his speed. Luis Contreras, a two-time Plate winner, will ride, with Jessie Ladouceur as groom.
Magical Factor, bred and owned by Chiefswood Stables, comes into the Plate off a second-place finish in the Marine Stakes (G3). Trained by Rachel Halden, this bay gelding, a son of The Factor, has shown consistent improvement, with a record of 1 win and 2 seconds from 5 starts. Jose Campos rides Magical Factor, groomed by Regulo Perez.
Military Time, owned by Gary Barber and Vincent Viola's St. Elias Stable, and trained by Mark Casse, who has three Plate wins, finished third in the Plate Trial. Casse believes the Plate distance will benefit Military Time, a son of Gun Runner, but noted his need to focus more during races. Fraser Aebly will be aboard, with Ivan Forde as groom.
Very Special, also trained by Attard, will make his stakes debut in the Plate, seeking his maiden victory. This bay colt, by Ghostzapper, has shown promise despite a challenging start in his most recent outing. Attard is adding blinkers to help the colt focus. Romero Ramsay Maragh will ride, and Mervin Daniel grooms the colt.
The first race on Saturday begins at 12:30 p.m. EDT, with Citytv in Canada broadcasting the national Plate coverage starting at 4:30 p.m. EDT.
The King's Plate represents more than just a horse race; it embodies the enduring legacy and passion of Canadian thoroughbred racing. The sheer determination and skill displayed by these young horses, coupled with the strategic brilliance of their trainers and jockeys, create a narrative that captivates audiences. Luster's quest for victory against a strong male field adds an intriguing layer to this historic event, reminding us that in horse racing, anything is possible. The triple crown series also offers a platform for rising stars and established champions to etch their names into the annals of history, fostering both excitement and anticipation for the future of the sport.