Messier tops 100 nominees to Canadian Triple Crown

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Messier, the No. 1-ranked male 3-year-old in North America by Daily Racing Form, heads the 100 nominees for this year’s Canadian Triple Crown put out by Woodbine.

Messier has won 3 of 5 starts, all in Southern California, under the guidance of trainer Bob Baffert. Named after hockey great Mark Messier, the son of Empire Maker was a 15-length winner of the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis on Feb. 6 at Santa Anita, when he earned a whopping 103 Beyer Speed Figure.

Messier is slated to make his next start in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 9. Bred by Sam-Son Farm, he is owned by a large partnership that includes Starlight Racing, SF Racing, and Madaket Stables.

Presumed 2021 Canadian champion male 2-year-old God of Love is one of 10 nominees trained by Mark Casse. Victorious in the Grade 3 Grey and Cup and Saucer Stakes, the son of Cupid was a slow-starting sixth in his season opener in the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis at Tampa.

Moira is the most accomplished filly nominated. A professional winner on debut around two turns in the restricted Princess Elizabeth Stakes, Moira ran second to the presumed Canadian champion 2-year-old filly Mrs. Barbara in her only other outing in the Grade 3 Mazarine.

The Canadian Triple Crown kicks off Aug. 21 with the $1 million Queen’s Plate on the synthetic Tapeta surface at Woodbine. The unique series switches to the dirt at Fort Erie on Sept. 23 for the $400,000 Prince of Wales Stakes, and culminates Oct. 2 on the main turf at Woodbine in the $400,000 Breeders’ Stakes.
Wando was the last horse to sweep the Canadian Triple Crown in 2003.