Saturday (Aug. 16) at Woodbine Racetrack is the 166th running of the King’s Plate, the most prestigious horse racing stake in Canada as well as the oldest continuously run stakes event in North America. This year’s edition of the $1-million classic not only gathers a group of 13 runners but also sits nestled between two other stakes races inside a tremendous gambling opportunity, the $5 King’s & Queen’s Pick 3. The special wager also offers a low 15 percent takeout, which makes it a must-play wager on the premiere day of racing at Woodbine.
The $5 King’s & Queen’s Pick 3 covers Races 7, 9 and 10 on the Saturday card; the Grade 1 CAD$750,000 E. P. Taylor Stakes, the $1,000,000 King’s Plate and the Grade 2 CAD$200,000 King Edward Stakes. Let’s break down each of the races:
Race 7 | 1-1/4 Miles (Turf) | G1 $750,000 E. P. Taylor Stakes | F&M 3YO+
At 3-5 on the morning line, a bulk of tickets will thread through Cherie DeVaux’s star turf filly She Feels Pretty. The daughter of Karakontie ships across the border following a tough-to-swallow defeat to Excellent Truth, whom she headed in the stretch and failed to put away at the finish. Nonetheless, her resume makes her a logical contender to win this race, but she probably is the best favorite to play against in this high-minimum sequence since she’ll carry tremendous anchor weight before two fairly wide open (and therefore “spread”) races.
This race could have a stone single in Diamond Rain, who makes her North American debut for none other than Godolphin and British super trainer Charlie Appleby. Appleby and Godolphin – even with lower-string horses from their battalion – have a tremendous record when targeting North American stakes, which unfortunately means we may still pay a tax going the direction of the royal blue (maybe one or two odds points as a guess).
But aside from having solid connections, Diamond Rain has qualitative appeals in the specific scope of this race. First, I should note that she had a decent 3-year-old campaign with her only losses coming from a green performance during the 2024 Royal Ascot meeting and the other over soft ground in her first start against older horses last November. She has two solid tighteners coming into the E. P. Taylor over tracks with long straightaways, Haydock and Newcastle. Buick, who in those two recent races clearly had ample power through a snug hold, has to pump to get her to quicken, but she keeps rolling once hitting her top gear. Join this with the fact that She Feels Pretty has not really quickened to the finish of her last two races (over wetter courses, for what it’s worth) and Diamond Rain seems well suited for this race over the notably long stretch of the E. P. Taylor Turf Course.
Contenders: 3-Diamond Rain
Fades: 4-She Feels Pretty
Race 9 | 1-1/4 Miles (All-Weather) | $1,000,000 King’s Plate | 3YO Canada Bred
One tidbit that always stands out to me about the King’s Plate is how often speed rules this race. You would think over a longer distance and on a synthetic surface that closers stand a good chance inside of this race, but the winner of the last few renewals has usually been within a few lengths of the lead, and only a couple eke into the top four from well off the pace. For a seven-figure purse, it’s a truly enigmatic race.
With this in mind, Mansetti holds tremendous appeal. He usually races close to the speed and was able to put away Scorching, another serious pacesetter in this race (who folded without fight in the Plate Trial), to win the Grade 3 Marine Stakes in late June. From the rail draw, and – I have to imagine – as Pietro Moran’s choice in the race, he should go forward and be in a striking spot.
A pair of the obvious horses have merits in this race, too. Notorious Gangster got a tremendous prep from the Plate Trial, as he still raced somewhat greenly but continued gaining through the finish against a perhaps more green Sedburys Ghost. His main issue is that he sometimes is forced to come from well off the speed, but he at least will keep pushing depending on if the front gets tired in this group. The other obvious, Mark Casse’s No Time, does not have this concern. She should work into a great spot out of post 10 and be plugging late for a barn that also has had great showings in the King’s Plate.
One intriguing runner for me here is Runaway Again since the King’s Plate will be just the second start of his career. I feel like he has a chance at a better trip depending on the break – in his debut he had a tight break that pushed him back – but he displayed so much zeal in his 9-1/4-length Maiden romp that the distance at least is not much of a question mark. Winning here is a huge ask for a horse like him, but getting Javier Castellano could be a great match as long as he can give this horse clear running to circle through the gears into top stride.
Contenders: 1-Mansetti, 3-Notorious Gangster, 7-Runaway Again, 10-No Time
Fades: 4-Scorching, 12-Sedburys Ghost
Race 10 | 1 Mile (Turf) | G2 $200,000 King Edward Stakes | 3YO+
The first thing that stands out to me inside of this race is the starkly different running styles of Mark Casse’s runners Lucky Score and War Strategy. Sahin Civaci, pretty much the first-call rider for Casse, sides with the back class of deep closer Lucky Score while Pietro Moran picks up the incredibly speedy War Strategy. I’m unsure if this will truly play as a rabbit situation, but War Strategy should at least ensure an honest pace in a race that does have several who race best off the speed.
Cruden Bay, the morning line favorite, should absolutely be in the hunt after a strong rally to win the Grade 2 Connaught Cup. The 7-year-old gelding has reached career form for trainer Don MacRae and, joined with a probable strong pace, should again have a shot at finding the winner’s circle. He just has to not be too far off the speed like he was when finishing fifth in this race last year.
Piper’s Factor getting the rail draw should make him a stronger factor in this race. I’m unsure of whether Husbands will try this, but I figure an inside trip could do him well. He’s not the quickest at accelerating, but he’s a good grinder who needs a straight path to find his best stride. This could, however, mean that he has to find a path off the rail to avoid typical traffic.
Gas Me Up is also an intriguing contender on the return to a mile. He seemed like a solid 2-year-old for Peter Eurton, but just was a little immature as shown in a precocious fourth-place run in the Grade 3 Zuma Beach. Since moving into the Kevin Attard barn, he’s been on a methodical positive trajectory while also seeming poised to land in a productive spot in either the second or third flight.
I’m ultimately unsure of what to make about Dresden Row here. He ran well to take second in the Grade 3 Seagram Cup, but I feel like his chances of getting a clear run against this group don’t feel worth the likely short odds he’ll be inside of this race. He hopefully plays as a takeout reducer then, which should help if anyone but Cruden Bay wins in this payoff leg.
Contenders: 1-Piper’s Factor, 3-Cruden Bay, 6-Lucky Score, 8-Gas Me Up
Fades: 5-Dresden Row, 10-War Strategy
