Twilight Meteor early Plate favorite

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Twilight Meteor, based in Florida with trainer Todd Pletcher, has been made the 3-1 favorite in the hypothetical "winter book" for this year's $1 million Queen's Plate at Woodbine.

The winter book was compiled by Woodbine oddsmaker Jennifer Morrison. A total of 131 horses are eligible for the Queen's Plate, a 1 1/4-mile race for Canadian-bred 3-year-olds that will be run on June 24.

Owned by Peachtree Stable, Twilight Meteor has won his last two starts, including Keeneland's 1 1/16-mile Bourbon County last Oct. 27.

Twilight Meteor's other four outings, including a last-out victory in Gulfstream's Hallandale Beach, have come on turf.

Leonnatus Anteas, who was voted Canada's champion 2-year-old male, is next in Morrison's Queen's Plate line at 5-1.

Owned by Knob Hill Stable and the estate of Steve Stavro, Leonnatus Anteas won all three of his starts here at 2, all in stakes, concluding with the 1 1/8-mile Coronation Futurity.

Leonnatus Anteas wintered in Florida and is at Payson Park with trainer Kevin Attard.

Rounding out the top five for the winter book are Cobrador (8-1), High Act (12-1), and Jiggs Coz (15-1).

Cobrador has been campaigning at Turfway Park, where he most recently was third in the 1 1/16-mile John Battaglia Memorial.

High Act has been racing at Gulfstream Park and has recorded back-to-back fourth-place finishes in entry-level allowance races at 1 1/8 miles.

Jiggs Coz, based at Woodbine with trainer Sid Attard, finished third in last year's Coronation Futurity and went on to win the 1 1/16-mile Display.

In order for nominated horses to remain eligible, a sustaining payment of $1,500 must be made by May 1. Horses also can be supplemented by that date at a cost of $5,000.

Also, for the first time the Queen's Plate will be open to supplementary nominees at the time of entry. The cost will be $25,000, which includes the $10,000 entry fee.