The filly Curlin's Voyage will start from post 10 in 14-horse Queen's Plate
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Woodbine Oaks winner Curlin’s Voyage got post 10 and was pegged as the 5-2 second favorite among 14 Canadian-bred 3-year-olds in the 161st running of the $1 million Queen’s Plate at Woodbine on Saturday.
Curlin’s Voyage, last year’s Canadian champion 2-year-old filly, captured the seven-furlong Fury Stakes and the nine-furlong Oaks, after ending up second in her season opener in the six-furlong Star Shoot Stakes. She earned a 93 Beyer Speed Figure in the Oaks after rallying inside from well off a fast pace to prevail by 1 3/4 lengths.
Patrick Husbands will ride Curlin’s Voyage for trainer Josie Carroll. Both have won the 1 1/4-mile Plate twice.
“She’s tremendously consistent,” Carroll said.
Fillies have always carried 121 pounds vs. 126 pounds for the boys in the Plate, but at this time of year, fillies are required to tote 123 pounds.
Just a half-length separated Clayton (2-1 favorite on Queen’s Plate line), Halo Again (5-1), and Dotted Line (8-1) when they swept the top three positions in the Plate Trial Stakes.
Clayton got post 12 for the Plate. He ran greenly while taking the nine-furlong Trial with an 89 Beyer, and has since worked to trainer Kevin Attard’s satisfaction.
“He came out of his last work in good shape,” Attard said. “He’s training well. I’m happy with him. He’s where I need him to be.”
Kevin Attard also sends out Merveilleux (10-1), who was a troubled third in the Oaks.
“She’s doing really well,” Attard said. “I’m excited for her. She just needs a little racing luck. I think the mile and a quarter isn’t going to be an issue. If everything lines up for her, I think she’s flying under the radar.”
Trainer Sid Attard will saddle Dotted Line and the long-winded Olliemyboy (30-1), who came from left field to win a nine-furlong maiden special Aug. 1.
Rounding out the field are Belichick (30-1), F F Rocket (50-1), Glorious Tribute (30-1), Holyfield (30-1), Mighty Heart (20-1), the lone supplement Sweepin Hard (50-1), Tecumseh’s War (12-1), and Truebelieve (30-1).
Originally scheduled for June 27 and delayed due to the pandemic, the Queen’s Plate is the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown. It will be followed by the $400,000 Prince of Wales Stakes on the dirt at Fort Erie on Sept. 29, and the $400,000 Breeders’ Stakes on the grass here Oct. 24.
The Queen’s Plate will be broadcast from 4:30-6 p.m. on CTV and TSN in Canada. Post time for the Plate, race 10 on a 13-race card, is 5:41 p.m. Eastern. The first race goes at 12:30 p.m.