Telekinesis faces large field in Queen's Plate

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Plate Trial winner Telekinesis will leave the gate from post 10 in the 159th running of the $1 million Queen’s Plate over 1 1/4 miles at Woodbine on Saturday. The field of 16 is the largest for the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown since 17 runners went postward in 2011.

Telekinesis should be favored following his 1 3/4-length victory over Rose’s Vision in the Plate Trial on June 9. The son of Ghostzapper has won two of his four starts and finished second in the Grade 3 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland on April 14. Telekinesis, to be ridden by Patrick Husbands, has been forwardly placed in each of his starts, and trainer Mark Casse expects that trend to continue Saturday.

“I would expect he’s going to show some pretty good speed,” he said. “If we were down inside, Patrick would have a tougher time getting him to relax, but I think he’ll be able to relax from where he’s at.”

Casse is seeking his second Queen’s Plate victory and has three contenders, including Wonder Gadot and Neepawa. Wonder Gadot is one of two fillies in the race and will wear blinkers for the first time following three straight runner-up finishes, including in the Kentucky Oaks in May.

“She seems relaxed with the blinkers on,” Casse said.

:: Get bonus PPs and watch Saturday's Queen's Plate card at Woodbine live

Neepawa, last year’s Coronation Futurity runner-up, most recently ran a troubled third in an allowance at Woodbine on May 20.

“I think he’s going to come in a little bit under the radar, but my feeling has always been he’s bred to go a mile and a quarter,” Casse said. “It would not shock me one iota.”

Assuming all three runners start Saturday, Casse will have started 28 horses in 12 editions of the Queen’s Plate, including 2014 winner Lexie Lou. Casse said he’s confident in his trio.

“We’ve ran in this race many times, and our success has been spotty at best,” he said. “A lot of times, I think you’re in the race just to be in it and taking a chance. That’s not the case this year. We have some major horsepower here, and I’d be pretty disappointed if we’re not right there.”

Key Contenders

Telekinesis, by Ghostzapper
Last 3 Beyers: 88-90-87

◗ Telekinesis recorded his final work for the Queen’s Plate on June 22, covering four furlongs in 49.20 seconds. Casse said he felt Telekinesis’s work ahead of the Plate Trial took something out of the colt, so he was placed under a snug hold throughout his most recent breeze.

Dixie Moon, by Curlin
Last 3 Beyers: 88-90-64

◗ She can become the seventh filly to complete the Woodbine Oaks-Queen’s Plate double. She’s drawn well in post 7 and has been able to settle off the pace in her last two starts, a runner-up finish in the Grade 3 Selene Stakes and her win in the Woodbine Oaks.

Wonder Gadot, by Medaglia d’Oro
Last 3 Beyers: 88-96-82

◗ John Velazquez has ridden her five times, including in her most recent win last November in the Grade 2 Demoiselle Stakes at Aqueduct and in the Kentucky Oaks, and is reunited with the filly.

Strike Me Down, by Tapit
Last 3 Beyers: 83-81-74

◗ He was clear in the stretch but was caught late in the Tale of the Cat Stakes on good turf at Monmouth Park on June 2. In his only race on Woodbine’s Tapeta, he earned an 81 Beyer Speed Figure while winning his maiden on an extremely windy day.

Neepawa, by Scat Daddy
Last 3 Beyers: 77-85-84

◗ After his second-place finish in the Coronation Futurity, he won his maiden on turf at Gulfstream Park. He recorded back-to-back fifth-place finishes in turf stakes at Gulfstream before returning to Woodbine to finish a troubled third in an allowance May 20.

Rose’s Vision, by Artie Schiller
Last 3 Beyers: 85-71-80

◗ He was taken off the pace in the Grade 3 Marine Stakes two starts back but improved when being more forwardly placed in the Plate Trial. His outside draw could force jockey Javier Castellano to go for the early lead.