Inglorious early Queen's Plate favorite

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Inglorious, a filly who currently is in New Orleans with trainer Josie Carroll, has been made the 4-1 favorite in this year’s “winterbook” for the $1 million Queen’s Plate.

The Queen’s Plate winterbook, a hypothetical exercise now compiled by Adam Hickman of Woodbine’s media communications department, lists odds for the 109 Canadian-bred 3-year-olds currently eligible for the 1 1/4-mile Queen’s Plate here at Woodbine Racetrack on June 26. Fillies have fared well in recent Queen’s Plates with Roan Inish and Milwaukee Appeal finishing third in the last two editions after Ginger Brew ended a close second in 2008.

All three were coming off a victory in the Woodbine Oaks, a 1 1/8-mile race for Canadian-bred 3-year-old fillies which will be renewed on June 5.

Inglorious, trained by Josie Carroll, was undefeated in her only two starts here last year, including the 1 1/16-mile Ontario Lassie. In her 2011 bow, which came in the 1 1/16 mile Rachel Alexandra at the Fair Grounds on Feb. 19, Inglorious finished second behind the talented Kathmanblu.

Queens’platekitten, the second choice at 5-1, was an impressive winner over 1 1/16 miles in his second career start here last December. Purchased privately in the interim, Queens’platekitten returned to action at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 5 with a sharp first-level allowance score over one mile of turf for new trainer Todd Pletcher.

Bowman’s Causeway, the third choice at 6-1, is coming off a troubled fourth-place finish in last Saturday’s 1 1/8-mile Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream. Trained by Patrick Biancone, Bowman’s Causeway had won his maiden over 1 1/8 miles in his start prior to the Fountain of Youth.

Rounding out Hickman’s top five are Sensational Slam (8-1) and Pender’s Harbour (10-1).

Sensational Slam, also trained by Pletcher, was successful sprinting in his first two starts here last year before finishing up the track on the turf at Saratoga. The colt has been entered in Saturday’s $65,000 Fred Cappossela, a six-furlong stakes at Aqueduct.

Pender Harbour, an Ontario-sired gelding conditioned by Mike DePaulo, was 2 for 3 while competing in restricted company here last year, including an impressive score in the 1 1/16-mile Kingarvie in his last outing.

To maintain eligibility the connections of current nominees must submit a sustaining payment of $1,500 by May 1. Supplementary nominees will be accepted by that date at a cost of $5,000.