King's Plate: Luster made short-priced favorite despite drawing post 1
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario — Woodbine Oaks heroine Luster will try to become the first odds-on winner of the King’s Plate since Alydeed in 1992 in Saturday’s 167th running of the $1 million event for Canadian-bred 3-year-olds at Woodbine.
At the behest of the Ontario HBPA, Woodbine reverted to the pick your post position format at the draw Tuesday, when a random lottery was held first to determine the order in which each horse’s connections pick their post.
In a 12-horse field, Luster ended up with post 1 with the final pick. She was tabbed at even-money on the morning line, but should go off at no higher than 4-5 under the accomplished Hall of Famer John Velazquez.
Luster earned a whopping 97 Beyer Speed Figure when taking the July 19 Woodbine Oaks by 5 1/2 lengths under Velazquez. The daughter of Knicks Go also won the Grade 3 Selene in late June with a 91 Beyer, which came on the heels of her only loss, a third-place finish in the seven-furlong Ruling Angel Stakes.
Josie Carroll trains Luster for the partnership of Gainesway Farm and Andrew Rosen.
“She’s a tremendously exciting horse,” Carroll said. “She certainly looks like she’ll get an [extended] route of ground.”
Carroll drew the first pick with her other entrant, 30-1 outsider Don Ique, and selected post 6 for the closer.
Brachetto, victorious in the Grade 3 Marine, is the 5-1 second choice from post 9 under Ryan Munger. Trained by Julia Carey, he skipped the July 19 Plate Trial Stakes to come into the Plate fresh off a six-week break.
Woodbine Oaks runner-up Dixie Law, who was tabbed at 10-1, got post 5 in the 1 1/4-mile Tapeta event.
Fillies carry 121 pounds in the Plate, five pounds fewer than the males in the lineup.
Dale Desruisseaux trains Dixie Law and Plate Trial victor Highwaytothemoon, the third choice on the line at 6-1.
Initially thought to be a front-running sprinter off his victory in the seven-furlong King Corrie Stakes in May, Highwaytothemoon rated kindly along the inside in a stalking position in the nine-furlong Plate Trial before going on to score by a length.
The lack of a regular front-runner in the Plate field means Highwaytothemoon could inherit the roll of pacemaker from post 8 under three-time Plate winner Rafael Hernandez.
“If he does, he does,” Desruisseaux said. “It looks like he shuts off a little better behind a horse. I’d probably prefer that, but if they go in 25 and 50, then he’ll be up there.”
Magical Factor is 10-1 off his narrow loss in the Plate Trial, during which he hit the front in the stretch before getting caught late. Trained by Rachel Halden, the Chiefswood Stables homebred was a blowout maiden winner three back on the grass at Keeneland, after which he ran second in his local debut and first Tapeta start in allowance company.
Rounding out the Plate field are Baaeed Alynna (30-1), Bond Market (30-1), Fire and Wine (30-1), Imyourmedicineman (20-1), Military Time (12-1), and Very Special (30-1).
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