Fire and Wine, Magical Factor top 83 nominated for Canadian Triple Crown

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – A total of 83 Canadian-bred 3-year-olds were nominated to the 2026 Canadian Triple Crown by the April 1 deadline, including Coronation Futurity victor Fire and Wine and Keeneland maiden winner Magical Factor.

The Canadian Triple Crown for Canadian-bred 3-year-olds commences with the 167th running of the 1 1/4 -mile King’s Plate on the synthetic Tapeta surface Aug. 15. It will be followed by the $400,000 Prince of Wales Stakes, a 1 3/16-mile dirt route Sept. 7 at Fort Erie; and the $400,000 Breeders’ Stakes over 1 1/2 miles on the grass at Woodbine Sept. 27.

Trained by Zelijko Krcmar, Fire and Wine got the winter off in Ontario after taking the 1 1/8-mile Coronation in front-running style by five lengths with an 86 Beyer Speed Figure in late November.

The Rachel Halden-trained Magical Factor earned an 89 Beyer when graduating over 1 1/16 miles on the grass at Keeneland in his third start April 11.

Also released by Woodbine were the 63 nominees for the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks, a 1 1/8-mile route for Canadian-bred 3-year-old fillies July 19.

The unbeaten Josie Carroll charge Corsia Veloce was nominated to both the Plate and Oaks, but she has not worked since taking the Grade 1 Natalma last September, after which she was injured. She is expected to be crowned Canadian champion 2-year-old filly at next week’s Sovereign Awards ceremony.

Dixie Law was also nominated to both the Plate and Oaks along with another Dale Desruisseaux trainee, Piper’s Gift. Dixie Law won the Grade 3 Mazarine and Cup and Saucer Stakes last fall before ending up fourth in the Coronation.

Piper’s Gift took the Glorious Song and Princess Elizabeth Stakes in the fall for Chiefswood Stables, which also owns Magical Factor and Oaks nominee Cool Times. The latter received an 80 Beyer when second going long at first asking on Tapeta at Gulfstream in March for trainer Katerina Vassilieva.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.