Halo Again among 61 still eligible for Queen's Plate

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – A total of 61 Canadian-bred 3-year-olds remain eligible for the 161st running of the $1 million Queen’s Plate, a 1 1/4-mile Canadian classic here Sept. 12.

The connections of 58 Queen’s Plate hopefuls made the July 1 sustaining payment, with an additional three supplementing to the Queen’s Plate, opening leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, at a cost of $5,000. The $10,000 entry fee is due Sept. 9, at which time horses not nominated can be supplemented for $25,000.

Among the nominees are Coronation Futurity winner Halo Again, who shipped north of the border from his Kentucky base to take the July 4 Queenston Stakes.

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Reigning Canadian champion 2-year-old filly Curlin’s Voyage is nominated to the Queen’s Plate. The probable favorite for the Aug. 15 Woodbine Oaks, Curlin’s Voyage has returned to form this year by taking the Fury Stakes after finishing second in the Star Shoot Stakes.

The New York-based runners Edge of Fire and Famished also have the Queen’s Plate on their radar.

The supplemented horses are Dr. Green, Canadian Pharoah, and Ennis the Menace.

Ninety-two horses were originally nominated to the 2020 Queen’s Plate on Feb. 3.

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◗ Trainer Mike Keogh said he will not appeal the controversial disqualification of Dr. Green, who is owned by the Estate of Gustav Schickedanz.

In a maiden route on the inner turf July 3, Dr. Green rallied wide under Jerome Lermyte and hit the front early in the stretch, then drew away after darting to the rail. Near the eighth pole, he was clear of a rival to his inside who appeared to shy away and cut off another horse. Dr. Green was placed ninth, and Lermyte was given a three-day suspension, which he is appealing.

“It was very disappointing,” Keogh said. “I thought it was the wrong decision, but the thing is with these appeals, once they’ve made their minds up, it’s so hard to win them.”

The stewards’ report from the incident quoted AGCO rule 11.07: “When clear, a horse may be taken to any part of the track, but if the horse swerves or is ridden to either side so as to interfere with, intimidate or impede any other horse, such horse may be disqualified.”

◗ After failing to coordinate a condition book with Fort Erie through Ontario Racing, Woodbine Entertainment has announced that horses leaving Woodbine to race at Fort Erie will not be permitted to return to stable at Woodbine until the fall stall application in mid-October. This does not apply to horses shipping out for a stakes or for a race worth over $30,000.

Another exception will be made for horses entered at Woodbine in a race that did not fill. Should this horse leave to race at Fort Erie within 10 days of this occurrence, that horse will be permitted to return to Woodbine through clearance with the racing secretary.