Oaks winner Academic likely to take on males in Queen's Plate

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – After setting a track record in her Woodbine Oaks victory on Sunday, Academic will be pointed toward the $1 million Queen’s Plate on July 5 for her next start, trainer Reade Baker said.

Academic was supplemented to the Oaks at a cost of $12,500 after her maiden win to start the season on May 15.

Baker said he and owner Danny Dion thought Academic’s maiden win was good enough to give her a shot in the Oaks.

The Oaks, Baker said, looked like it was “falling apart.”

“Some of the good ones didn’t look that good, and some of them didn’t work that good,” he said. “Danny said give it a shot.”

Academic would have to be supplemented to the Queen’s Plate at a cost of $25,000, but Baker didn’t think Dion would have a problem running his filly against colts and geldings.

Academic, who paid $135.50 to win, ran the 1 1/8 miles of the Woodbine Oaks in 1:48.86, which was .11 of a second faster than the previous mark, set by River Rush.