King and His Court, Tiz a Slam clash again in Plate Trial

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – King and His Court and Tiz a Slam, the top two finishers from the Wando Stakes on May 7, will face off again in Sunday’s $125,000 Plate Trial for Canadian-bred 3-year-olds over 1 1/8 miles on Tapeta at Woodbine.

The Plate Trial will serve as the final prep for the $1 million Queen’s Plate on July 2 for each of the six horses in the field. King and His Court rebounded from two disappointing races over the winter to win the Wando by a length over Tiz a Slam. Trainer Mark Casse said he has been impressed with King and His Court’s training since that start, including a strong five-furlong move in 59.20 seconds on May 28.

“He’s been training really well,” he said. “[Last Sunday] was a bit of a maintenance work. He’s doing extremely well.”

King and His Court is one of three horses in the field for Casse, who also will send out State of Honor and Expedition.

◗ Victory to Victory will make her first local start since winning last September’s Grade 1 Natalma Stakes when she faces a field of seven other 3-year-old fillies in the $100,000 Alywow Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs on turf.

Victory to Victory has raced twice this year, both going a mile on turf, and comes into the Alywow off a fourth-place finish in the Hilltop Stakes over a mile on turf at Pimlico on May 19.

Queen Del Valle has won eight of her nine starts on turf and will be looking for her fourth consecutive victory. This will be just her second start against stakes company, after she captured the Mrs. Presidentress Stakes at Gulfstream Park on May 20.

India Mantuana ships north for trainer Chad Brown off a seventh-place finish in the Grade 3 Edgewood Stakes at Churchill Downs on May 5. A three-time winner on grass, India Mantuana did finish a close second in the Ginger Brew Stakes at Gulfstream on Jan. 7.

Plate Trial, Race 7

Key Contenders

King and His Court, by Court Vision

Last 3 Beyers: 80-40-60

◗ He’s seeking his fourth consecutive stakes win on Tapeta. Along with the Wando, King and His Court won the Coronation Futurity and Display Stakes on Tapeta as a 2-year-old.

Tiz a Slam, by Tiznow

Last 3 Beyers: 78-84-78

◗ Trainer Roger Attfield will seek his seventh career win in the Plate Trial with Tiz a Slam, who will make his third start as a 3-year-old after his runner-up finish in the Wando and a fifth-place finish in the Columbia Stakes on turf at Tampa Bay Downs in March.

State of Honor, by To Honor and Serve

Last 3 Beyers: 41-90-89

◗ He will make his first start since he finished 19th in the Kentucky Derby on May 6. He has worked twice on Tapeta since that start and figures to be the pacesetter.

Avie’s Mesa, by Sky Mesa

Last 3 Beyers: 86-80-73

◗ The Plate Trial will mark his second start against stakes company, after running fourth in the Cup and Saucer Stakes on turf last October. He earned an 86 Beyer Speed Figure in an allowance in his first start on Tapeta in his most recent race May 13.

Guy Caballero, by Quality Road

Last 3 Beyers: 79-69-66

◗ He should appreciate the stretch-out after galloping out strongly following his first start of the year May 7, when he earned a 79 Beyer while finishing second to Conquest Lemonraid in an allowance over seven furlongs.

Expedition, by Pioneerof the Nile

Last 3 Beyers: 65-65-51

◗ A much better break from the gate in his maiden win May 22 allowed him to stalk the pace along the inside before angling out on the far turn and surging to the lead in deep stretch. He will be making his stakes debut.

◗ Other key contenders include Star Shoot Stakes winner R Naja, the recent maiden winner Silent Sonet, and recent allowance winner Will She.