Gierkink's preview: Queen's Plate centerpiece attraction
Queen’s Plate Day
The biggest day of the meet has three graded turf stakes, along with the 155th running of the $1 million Queen’s Plate, North America’s oldest continuously run stakes.
The 1 1/4-mile Plate attracted 15 Canadian-bred 3-year-olds, and is an excellent betting race, even if you think the favored New York shipper We Miss Artie can’t lose. The Jackpot Hi 5 will have a mandatory payout on the Plate itself, and a large carryover of $262,596 along with a 15 percent takeout means the tricky wager could still pay handsomely, even if Artie prevails. (The Jackpot Hi 5 is a 20-cent base bet, where the top five finishers must be selected in order).
Lexie Lou, the impressive Woodbine Oaks winner, is the other protagonist. There are a host of runners who figure to be vying for the secondary positions, including Coltimus Prime, Asserting Bear, Majestic Sunset, Lions Bay, Matador, Tower of Texas, Niigon Express, and Ami’s Holiday.
Who will lead the way? Jesse Campbell could on longshot Coltimus Prime, who will start from post 2.
“We don’t have to be there, but if they give it to me, I’ll take it,” said Campbell, who rode longshot Midnight Aria to a front-running score in last year’s Plate, run over a wet Polytrack which aided speed.
The talented maiden Majestic Sunset should be on or near the engine. He set a slow pace in the Trial before giving way to We Miss Artie, who was geared down late. Heart to Heart is another possible pacemaker for the crafty Aussie Brian Lynch, who sent out Clearly Now to take the Grade 3 Belmont Sprint Championship on Saturday.
Late pick four guaranteed at $250,000
The Queen’s Plate is the 11th race and the third leg of the late pick four. The first leg, the Grade 3 Singspiel Stakes, can be pared down to last year’s winner, the popular Forte Dei Marmi, and second-time gelding Aldous Snow.
The 10th race, the Grade 2 Highlander, could be dominated by the 9-5 morning line favorite, Something Extra, who’s coming off a heart-breaking loss to Excaper in the Grade 2 Connaught Cup. Others who merit consideration for the lion’s share of the $200,000 purse include reigning Canadian champion sprinter Phil’s Dream and Mr. Online.
The 12th is a wide open first-level allowance at seven furlongs on grass, and pressing the “all” button is recommended. One for Jack could fire big off the layoff, and the versatile Regal Warning is in with a chance in his second race off the bench. Best Bard is the logical 3-1 morning line favorite, and longshot Uncatchable Fire could pose a challenge under the live bug Sheena Ryan.
Early pick four guaranteed at $100,000
Crafty Gizmo should prove tough to beat in the second leg, the fifth race, off her troubled debut where she got sandwiched between rivals at the break before closing for second.
Sixth-race favorite Spin the King, coming off a narrow loss in the Bold Ruckus Stakes, is another viable single under Chantal Sutherland-Kruse.
Horse to watch
MONEY TALKER
Trainer: Sid Attard
Last race: July 4, 8th
Finish: 5th by 2 3/4
Beyer: 81
He was blocked behind rivals during a good portion of the stretch run before landing on the edges in a one-mile optional claimer on the grass. His next outing will be the third start of his form cycle, and it could be a peak one for this son of successful Ontario sire Silent Name.