Pipers Thunder wins Plate Trial Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Pipers Thunder ($21) established himself as a contender for the June 25 Queen's Plate by taking the $151,200 Sunday at Woodbine.

Pipers Thunder pressed the pace on the outside under jockey Ray Sabourin in the nine-furlong contest. He took control at the head of the stretch, then shrugged off bids from longshots Cifercat and Ascot Bill in the stretch to prevail by a length over the latter.

The even-money favorite, Edenwold, last year's Canadian champion 2-year-old, finished third after racing prominently. Cifercat faded to fourth in the eight-horse field of Canadian-bred 3-year-olds.

It was just the third start and first stakes engagement for Pipers Thunder, who was coming off a maiden win under Sabourin. "He worked a terrific three-quarters of a mile on the farm last week," said Sabourin. "It looked like he was going into the race great."

Pipers Thunder ran the distance in 1:51.65 seconds, earning $90,000 for Chiefswood Stable and trainer Eric Coatrieux.