Guy Caballero pulls off 20-1 upset in Plate Trial
ETOBICOKE, Ontario—Guy Caballero came wide from the back of the pack under Rafael Hernandez to capture the $125,000 Plate Trial Stakes at 20-1 on Sunday at Woodbine.
In his first start since finishing up the track in the Kentucky Derby, the favored State of Honor set honest fractions in the nine-furlong Queen’s Plate prep. Expedition stalked in second, while another Mark Casse trainee, King and His Court, saved ground in fourth on the backstretch.
Guy Caballero trailed the six-horse field on the outside heading into the far turn, after racing about four lengths off the lead. He then mounted a steady rally to overhaul State of Honor in deep stretch, and scored by a half-length over King and His Court, who had made up ground along the rail.
Guy Caballero ($42.60) covered the distance in 1:51.32.
“I got a good trip,” said Hernandez. “I had a good break, and sat behind the horses. He gave me everything he had in the stretch. He showed up today.”
It was the first stakes win for Guy Caballero, a son of Quality Road who earned $75,000 for owners Sean and Dorothy Fitzhenry. It was the second Plate Trial victory for trainer Catherine Day Phillips, who sent out A Bit O’ Gold to win it in 2004.
Casse felt that reigning Canadian champion 2-year-old King and His Court failed to bring his “A” game, but was pleased with State of Honor’s performance.
“He looked like he was lumbering today,” Casse said. “Some days, he comes with a big kick, and today he was lumbering. State of Honor ran big, because he missed a little time after the Derby.”
The $1 million Queen’s Plate, a 10-furlong test for Canadian-bred 3-year-olds, will be run here July 2.