State of Honor, King and His Court likely for Queen's Plate

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Mark Casse saddled Plate Trial runner-up King and His Court and third-place finisher State of Honor and said following the race that both horses likely will run in the Queen’s Plate on July 2.

Casse said King and His Court didn’t show his usual late kick along the rail in the Plate Trial.

“He looked like he was kind of lumbering today,” he said. “Some days he comes with a big kick; today, he was lumbering.”

Meanwhile, State of Honor was making his first start since finishing 19th in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 6. He set a moderate pace in the Plate Trial under jockey Patrick Husbands and continued to lead into the stretch before settling for third. State of Honor had worked twice on the Tapeta coming into the Plate Trial, and Casse was pleased with his effort Sunday.

:: Add a 5-card pack of PPs and save 55¢/card!

“State of Honor ran big,” he said. “He missed a little time after the Derby. I had told [owners Manfred and Penny Conrad] that this race could help him.”

Casse said State of Honor likely will proceed to the Queen’s Plate despite distance and surface concerns.

“There’s still the question of whether he can go the mile and a quarter,” he said. “The surface is a question. He’s a Canadian-bred, and the Queen’s Plate is everything to the Conrads. As long as he’s happy and healthy, three weeks from now, you’ll see him.”