Woodbine: Queen's Plate attracts 14, led by favorite Strait of Dover

Michael Burns

Strait of Dover will break from post 4 as the probable favorite in Sunday's Queen's Plate.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — Strait of Dover, coming off an impressive victory in the 1 1/16-mile Marine Stakes on May 13, has been made the 3-1 morning-line favorite for Sunday’s 153rd running of the $1 million Queen’s Plate at Woodbine.

A field of 14 was entered for the Queen’s Plate at the annual ceremonial breakfast and Strait of Dover will start from post 4 under regular rider Justin Stein.

Trainer Danny Vella drew the fifth-selection in the two-tiered process.

“My best choices were 8 or 4,” Vella said. “I’ve been thinking there’s not a lot of speed in the race, and I think we’re going to be in the first five going into the turn, so we’re better off inside.”

River Rush, second in Woodbine oddsmaker Ernie Perri’s morning line at 4-1, had the 10th choice of posts and his trainer, Reade Baker, went with the 1-hole.

“ I just want to save as much ground as he can,” said Baker. “He doesn’t have a lot of natural speed.

River Rush had gone into the June 3 Plate Trial as a maiden but was a 5 1/4-length winner under jockey Jim McAleney after breaking from the 1-hole.

Golden Ridge, coming off an impressive maiden win under jockey Luis Contreras over 1 1/16 miles here May 13, is a 6-1 chance and will start from post 7 after getting the first pick. Luis Contreras retains the mount.

“It’s a perfect spot,” said trainer Mark Casse. “He’s in the middle of the field, and he’ll be one of the last to load.”

Casse also will send out Dixie Strike and Making Amends.

Dixie Strike, who will have regular rider Patrick Husbands aboard, is the 8-1 fourth choice after disappointing in the June 3 Woodbine Oaks at 1 1/8 miles and landed the No. 10 post with the seventh pick.

Making Amends, pegged at 20-1 off his sixth-place finish in the Plate Trial, will be ridden by Eurico Rosa Da Silva and post 9 was deemed to be the most suitable with the 11th pick.

Irish Mission, winner of the Woodbine Oaks for trainer Mark Frostad and jockey Alex Solis, is 10-1 on the morning line and will start from the outside after being the last to choose.

Big Creek, also at 10-1, is shipping in from Saratoga, for trainer Todd Pletcher and will have Ramon Dominguez aboard.

Pletcher, speaking from New York, picked 11th and selected the No. 12 post.

The Queen’s Plate will be one of six stakes on Woodbine’s 12-race Sunday program which begins at noon Eastern.

Queens' Plate (CAN), Post Time: 5:46 CT Saturday

Purse: $1,000,000; 1 1/4 miles