Silent Sting to make next start in Plate Trial

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Silent Sting stamped himself as a contender for the $1 million Queen’s Plate with his win in the Queenston Stakes here on April 22, and will make his next start in the $125,000 Plate Trial Stakes on June 9, trainer Sid Attard said.

Silent Sting will aim to deliver a second consecutive Queen’s Plate victory for owner Stronach Stables after the outfit won the race with Holy Helena last year. Stronach Stables also won the Queen’s Plate in 2015 with Shaman Ghost. This year’s Queen’s Plate is set for June 30.

Silent Sting capped his 2-year-old campaign with a win in the Kingarvie Stakes over 1 1/16 miles, and doubled up off of the layoff in the seven-furlong Queenston. He spent the winter down in Florida with Attard at Gulfstream Park. Attard said Silent Sting has developed nicely from a 2-year-old to a 3-year-old.

“He’s come around really nice,” he said. “He was doing really good down there.”

Silent Sting stalked the pace along the inside in the early stages of the Queenston under jockey Luis Contreras. At the top of the stretch, he was angled off the rail and made his bid for the lead, reeling in Blueblood in the final sixteenth to win by a neck. Attard said he was happy with Silent Sting’s effort in the Queenston, including the way the son of Silent Name finished the race in the stretch.

“He finished strong,” he said.

57 remain eligible for Queen’s Plate

With the Queen’s Plate less than two months away, Woodbine has released the list of 57 Canadian-bred 3-year-olds that remain eligible for the race following the May 2 second nomination deadline.

A total of 27 Canadian-bred 3-year-old fillies are still eligible for the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks, which will be run on June 9.

Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks runner-up Wonder Gadot is still eligible for both the Oaks and the Queen’s Plate. She’s one of four Queen’s Plate nominees for trainer Mark Casse. Casse’s other nominees are Kentucky Derby 13th-place finisher Flameaway, Grade 3 Lexington Stakes runner-up Telekinesis, and Neepawa.

Six other fillies are also nominated to both the Woodbine Oaks and Queen’s Plate: multiple stakes winner Dixie Moon, Hot Cash, Jack’s Memory, No Extensions, Queen’s Fate, and Zestina.

Other top contenders still eligible for the Queen’s Plate include Queenston Stakes winner Silent Sting, Grade 3 Marine Stakes third-place finisher Aheadbyacentury, and Sam-Son Farm homebreds Strike Me Down and Say the Word.