Three Plate hopefuls rematched

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Three of the six horses in Wednesday's opener at Woodbine are nominated to next month's $1 million Queen's Plate, including Costalivin, who should be favored in the 1 1/16-mile allowance for Ontario-sired 3-year-olds.

Costalivin, trained by John Ross for Jam Jar Racing Stable, made eight starts at 2. After ending up fourth in the restricted Clarendon Stakes in July, he competed in four consecutive Ontario-sired maiden sprints, during which he ran second once and third on the other three occasions.

Costalivin overcame traffic problems to win his maiden in his first two-turn start in November, earning a 66 Beyer Speed Figure. He spent the winter at the Payson Park Training Center in Florida, and was a stalking second in a slow-paced allowance over seven furlongs here when he came off the sidelines May 1.

Costalivin breezed three-quarters in 1:13 on the Polytrack May 12. Leading rider Patrick Husbands retains the mount.

Collerosa and Flip for the Coin are also eligible to the June 21 Plate, the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown.

Collerosa hit the board in each of his first three starts at 2, including a distant third-place finish in the Cup and Saucer Stakes on turf. He graduated in a five-furlong maiden dash in his first appearance of the year in April, and wound up third behind Costalivin May 1.

Eurico Da Silva will ride Collerosa for trainer Mike DePaulo.

Flip for the Coin earned his diploma second time out in October, in a mile and 70-yard maiden special for Ontario-sired stock. After a tardy start, he was beaten just 1 3/4 lengths when fourth in the restricted Kingarvie Stakes Nov. 29.

Flip for the Coin never challenged in his lone outing this year, finishing fourth behind Costalivin and Collerosa.

D'wild Man was nosed out of fourth by Flip for the Coin after running a little rank in the early stages in his second start off the bench. This will be his first attempt around two turns, and his pedigree is best suited to sprinting.

Keep Six had a 10-race juvenile campaign. He defeated $20,000 maidens in August, but his best effort was a two-length loss in the 1 1/16-mile Kingarvie.

Nerone came up empty in his lone try at 2. He got away slowly in his season debut before closing for a 39-1 upset score in the six-furlong maiden special.