Queen's Plate lineup may have 14

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - As of Monday morning, a field of 14 appeared likely for Sunday's $1 million Queen's Plate, the 1 1/4-mile race which is the first leg of the triple crown for Canadian-bred 3-year-olds.

Milwaukee Appeal and Tasty Temptation, the one-two finishers in the June 7 Woodbine Oaks, would have to be supplemented at a cost of $25,000 on Thursday but it will be no surprise if both are in the lineup.

Trainer Mark Casse has declared his intention to start Tasty Temptation while Scott Fairlie is on the fence but appears to be leaning toward running Milwaukee Appeal in the Plate.

Several of the Queen's Plate horses journeyed over to the Woodbine walking ring on Monday afternoon for a schooling and photo session at the annual Queen's Plate barbeque.

Attard optimistic about Bucephalus

Bucephalus and Stardust Ziggy both worked here Monday morning in preparation for the Queen's Plate.

Bucephalus, who is coming off a sixth-place finish in the 1 1/8-mile Plate Trial on May 31, breezed five furlongs in 1:02.20 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:16 under regular rider Tyler Pizarro.

"We weren't looking for anything fast or spectacular," said trainer Kevin Attard. "He galloped out good. This is the most positive I've been with him. I'm very content."

Stardust Ziggy, a maiden trained by Lorna Perkins, was clocked in 1:13.40 for six furlongs under his regular rider, Jerry Baird.

"He took it easy the first part, and really worked him the last three furlongs," said Perkins, who sent out Stardust Ziggy to finish a close second in a 1 1/8-mile maiden race here May 31.

Eye of the Leopard looks sharp

Eye of the Leopard, El Brujo, and Reservoir all worked on Sunday in their final major Queen's Plate tune-ups.

Eye of the Leopard, winner of the Plate Trial, breezed six furlongs in 1:13 under regular rider Eurico Rosa da Silva.

A Sam-Son Farm homebred trained by Mark Frostad, Eye of the Leopard had 4-year-old allowance-winning stablemate Catch the Luck serve as a target.

"Catch the Luck set the pace for him," said Frostad. "He started out about five lengths behind him, and ended up two in front. It was a good, solid work."

El Brujo, ninth as the Plate Trial favorite, drilled five furlongs in 59.80 seconds under exercise rider Mark Ramsammy.

"He worked behind another horse, then caught him and they finished up together," said Malcolm Pierce, who trains El Brujo for Windways Farm.

Emma-Jayne Wilson, who rode El Brujo in his six starts as a 2-year-old, regains the mount from Patrick Husbands, who piloted El Brujo to sprint stakes victories in his first two starts this year but is going with Tasty Temptation for the Queen's Plate.

Reservoir, winner of a seven-furlong maiden race and a first-level allowance over 1 1/8 miles of turf in his only two career outings, prepped five furlongs in 1:02.80 under his jockey Jim McAleney.

"He was supposed to be sitting in behind another horse, which he did," said Julia Carey, who conditions Reservoir for Goldie Stable and Weila Ye. "It worked out well. It served our purpose."

Reservoir also would have to be supplemented to the Queen's Plate.

Keino West may be peaking

Keino West served notice in his final Queen's Plate prep last Saturday, breezing six furlongs in 1:12.20 under regular rider Gerry Olguin.

"I think I'm finally impressed," said Steve Attard, who had watched Keino West finish 4 1/2 lengths back as the fifth-place finisher in the Plate Trial.

"He left behind a good workhorse, D'Awesome Cat, and I was worried he wouldn't get by. I think he's peaking at the right time."