Luster establishes herself the King's Plate favorite with Woodbine Oaks romp

ETOBICOKE, Ontario − Favored Luster established herself as the clear favorite for the prestigious King’s Plate with a blowout score under John Velazquez in Sunday’s $750,000 Woodbine Oaks.

Longshot Kinzie Girl set honest fractions in the 1 1/8-mile route for Canadian-bred 3-year-old fillies. Stablemates Luster and Bold Time both took up the chase in a stalking position, with Luster traveling best on the backstretch.

Luster took control on the far turn and then drew away under a hand ride in the stretch to prevail by 5 1/2 lengths over Dixie Law.

The final time of 1:50.99 was 1.18 seconds faster than Highwaytothemoon’s clocking for winning the Plate Trial Stakes earlier on the card.

Bold Time checked in third and was followed by Katie’s Grace, a troubled Piper’s Gift, Red Guitar, and Kinzie Girl. 
Luster ($3.40) gave trainer Josie Carroll her fourth win in the Woodbine Oaks.

“She’s a tremendously exciting horse,” Carroll said. “She certainly looks like she’ll get an [extended] route of ground. She seems to be moving forward all the time.”

Velazquez, who won last year’s Woodbine Oaks on No Time, is expected to return to Woodbine to ride Luster in the $1 million King’s Plate on Aug. 15.

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