Queen's Plate field taking shape

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – A field of approximately 16 Canadian-bred 3-year-olds looks to be taking shape for the $1 million Queen’s Plate, the centerpiece of the meet here July 6.

A maximum of 17 runners will be allowed to run, and career earnings will be the determining factor for any horses on the outside looking in.

Todd Pletcher-trained Plate Trial winner We Miss Artie is the leading money winner among the nominees, with $699,000. Lexie Lou, the dominating Woodbine Oaks winner, isn’t far behind, with $649,250 in earnings.

Lexie Lou is one of four Mark Casse-trained Plate prospects, along with Trial runner-up Majestic Sunset, Matador, and East Side.

Tower of Texas, a closing third in the Trial, will try to give trainer Roger Attfield a record-breaking ninth victory in the Plate.

Freitag, a recent purchase by Earle Mack, is slated to be supplemented to the Plate for $25,000 off a front-running score in an optional claimer.

Chiefswood Stable general manager Robert Landry said Niigon Express is a go, while Latin Piper is 50-50 for the race. Both are sons of 2004 Plate winner Niigon.

Asserting Bear, who was demoted from first to third by disqualification in the Marine Stakes, is one of two Bear Stables prospects, along with Man o’ Bear.

Ami’s Holiday was arguably best in the May 25 Marine, in which he was beaten just a neck after lacking room through the stretch. He will try to become trainer Josie Carroll’s third Plate winner.

Others headed for the race include Coltimus Prime, Lions Bay, Athenian Guard, and One Destiny.

Trainer Brian Lynch said he may run Heart to Heart, who wasn’t far back in sixth in the Marine after romping in an allowance on the grass at Keeneland.

The connections of Woodbine Oaks fourth-place finisher Paladin Bay and Plate Trial fourth-place finisher Rhythm Blues were noncommittal.

Trainer Harold Ladouceur offered no concrete excuses for Paladin Bay’s subpar showing as the favorite in the Oaks.

“It just wasn’t her day,” Ladouceur said. “She wasn’t all there. It had nothing to do with the track. She’s in good shape now. She’s eating up. It looks like she’s put on weight since the race.”

Rhythm Blues is trained by Nick Gonzalez, who has won the Plate twice in the last four years. Assistant trainer Martha Gonzalez said she’s leaning toward a first-level allowance for Rhythm Blues.

Trainer Bob Tiller has other stakes in mind for Spadina Road and The Imposter. He sent out Plate nominee Tulio’s Brew to finish a distant third in Sunday’s Victoria Park, the last local stakes prep for the Plate.