King's Plate is Luster's race to lose
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The $1 million King’s Plate is often the coming-out party for a star filly, with Moira and Caitlinhergrtness coming to mind. Luster could add her name to the list in Saturday’s 167th running of Canada’s most prestigious race.
The 1 1/4-mile Tapeta route attracted 11 other Canadian-bred 3-year-olds, but it appears to be Luster’s race to lose. Trained by Josie Carroll for the partnership of Gainesway Stable and Andrew Rosen, Luster won her first two starts easily on the grass against maidens here last August and in allowance company at Keeneland in April.
Luster endured her only loss when third behind Dixie Law and Meilani while turning back to seven furlongs in the May 16 Ruling Angel Stakes on Tapeta. She subsequently won the Grade 3 Selene going 1 1/16 miles and then ran the race of her life most recently when taking the 1 1/8-mile Woodbine Oaks by 5 1/2 lengths with a big 97 Beyer Speed Figure under John Velazquez.
“She’s just a horse that wants to win,” Carroll said at Tuesday’s draw. “She throws it on the line every time. She’s tired for three days after she runs. She gives you everything she has. What I liked about [the Oaks] was the way she finished up. She didn’t take as much out of herself as I was concerned she would [with] that race being this close to the Plate. She came out of it well. Now it’s in John Velazquez’s capable hands.”
Velazquez goes for his second Plate score on Luster and might be inclined to put the fast breaker on the lead after starting from post 1. She sizzled five furlongs in 58.80 seconds after mowing down her company in a strong five-furlong breeze under Fraser Aebly on Aug. 1.
Carroll’s other Plate entrant, Don Ique, is coming off a belated fifth in the 1 1/8-mile Plate Trial Stakes. He won against nonwinners of two three starts back in his local debut and first Tapeta start.
Trainer Dale Desruisseaux sends out Oaks runner-up Dixie Law and Plate Trial victor Highwaytothemoon.
Dixie Law has been a model of consistency, for the most part. She bled when a flat fourth in the Nov. 29 Coronation Futurity and then added Lasix when taking her season opener in the Ruling Angel before running third in the Selene and second in the Oaks. Her last two Beyers – both 88 – are the highest in the Plate field aside from Luster.
“If [Luster] runs the way she did in the Oaks, then we’re all running for second, but I was happy with Dixie Law in the Oaks,” Desruisseaux said. “She continued on down the lane. I think the mile and a quarter will benefit her. She can definitely stay. I think she had a little bit of an off day in the Selene. There were a couple of things that we switched up after the race.”
Highwaytothemoon has been a pleasant surprise for Desruisseaux, who thought the geleding was a pure sprinter before capturing the Plate Trial after rating kindly along the rail in a stalking position.
“I think his feature to get him to stretch out is his mind,” Desruisseaux said. “When that horse acted up in the gate in the Plate Trial and got scratched, the rest of them were washed out and pretty antsy, while he was as cool as a cucumber. His mind has taken him a long way.”
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If Luster isn’t allowed to roll early, Highwaytothemoon could inherit the role of pacesetter under three-time Plate winner Rafael Hernandez.
“If he does, he does,” Desruisseaux explained. “It looks like he shuts off a little better behind a horse. I’d probably prefer that, but if they go 25 and 50, then he’ll be up there.”
Four of the last seven Plate winners led all the way, including longshot Mansetti last year.
Brachetto had a breakout performance in his first try around two turns on June 27 in the Grade 3 Marine, during which he saved ground in sixth before mounting a furious wide rally to prevail with an 82 Beyer under Ryan Munger. After campaigning him with three weeks between races in the spring, trainer Julia Carey said she bypassed the Plate Trial with Brachetto to have him fresh for the King’s Plate.
“I just thought it was a bit much” to run back in the Trial, Carey explained. “Then we would have been going three weeks again. I just didn’t want to dance every dance and come over with a tired horse.”
Magical Factor has finished second twice on the Tapeta since graduating over Keeneland’s grass in April. After opening up a clear lead in the 1 1/16-mile Marine, the Chiefswood Stable homebred was caught on the wire by Brachetto.
Magical Factor rated willingly off a workmate before going on by when covering five furlongs in 1:00.80 last Sunday.
“He’s doing well,” Chiefswood general manager Robert Landry said. “He had a good work. I’d like to see him settle. That’s his biggest problem. Steve Bahen has been getting on him every day, and he’s been going well. He’s got the talent. It’s just his mind. When he comes to the paddock, he can be a little bullish and hot.”
Imyourmedicineman has the look of a live longshot who could crack the superfecta. Following two straight dull performances against Ontario-sired allowance types, the son of Queen’s Plate winner Shaman Ghost rallied wide for second in the Plate Trial.
“He didn’t run that well in his two starts before the Plate Trial,” trainer Harold Ladouceur pointed out. “I think the style he raced in those races wasn’t really what he wanted. He was near the lead, and when it came time to go, he just put his head up and did not want to run. I think he needs to sort of cover it up and take a little bit of a hold, and then let him run, even though he’s sharp out of the gate.”
The Mark Casse-trained Military Time closed for third in the Plate Trial after a chalky second behind Highwaytothemoon in the seven-furlong Queenston Stakes.
“He’s been a bit disappointing to me,” Casse said. “I do think he’ll like the mile and a quarter.”
Completing the Plate lineup are Baaeed Alynna, Bond Market, Fire and Wine, and Very Special.
◗ The King’s Plate is the opening leg of the Canadian Triple Crown. It will be followed by the $500,000 Prince of Wales over 1 3/16 miles on the dirt at Fort Erie on Sept. 7 and the $500,000 Breeders’ going 1 1/2 miles on the main turf on Sept. 27 at Woodbine.
◗ The King’s Plate goes as the 10th race on a 13-race card that includes five other stakes – the Grade 2 King Edward, Grade 2 Canadian, Grade 3 Bold Venture, Soaring Free, and Catch a Glimpse.
◗ First post Saturday is 12:30 p.m. It might be wise to arrive before 2 p.m. in an attempt to avoid picketing casino workers who have been on strike for a few weeks.
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