We Miss Artie draws post 6, will go as favorite in Queen's Plate

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Plate Trial winner We Miss Artie will start from post 6 and has been made the 8-5 morning-line favorite for the 155th running of the Queen’s Plate for Canadian-bred 3-year-olds Sunday at Woodbine.

Despite his impressive victory June 15 in the Plate Trial Stakes, We Miss Artie hasn’t scared off anyone from taking a shot at the $1 million purse, as a field of 15 will line up for the first jewel of the Canadian Triple Crown.

We Miss Artie is the lone horse in the field to have traveled the 1 1/4-mile distance, as he finished 10th in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby two starts back on dirt May 3 at Churchill Downs. Jockey Javier Castellano will retain the mount in the Queen’s Plate for trainer Todd Pletcher.

“Javier may have cut it a little bit close [in the Plate Trial],” said Ken Ramsey, who owns the colt with his wife, Sarah. “But he said the horse still had gas in the tank. We’ve never won the Queen’s Plate ... and that’s the goal. He came out of the race super and has trained well, and we think we have a good shot.”

[Queen’s Plate: Get PPs, watch Sunday's card live]

Trainer Mark Casse had the first choice of post position for Majestic Sunset (15-1) and chose post 7 in the draft-style post-position selection process, which was first used for the 1998 edition of the Queen’s Plate.

Casse will start three horses in search of his first Queen’s Plate victory, including Woodbine Oaks winner Lexie Lou, the lone filly in the field and the 4-1 second choice. Lexie Lou will start from post 14, while Matador, the 8-1 third choice, will start from post 10.

Trainer Reade Baker has entered a pair of horses who will leave the gate next to each other for Bear Stables. Asserting Bear (10-1) will start from post 4, while Man o’ Bear (30-1) will start from post 5.

Trainer Roger Attfield could win a record ninth Queen’s Plate with Tower of Texas (20-1), who will start from post 12.

Rounding out the field from the rail out are Cap in Hand (50-1), Coltimus Prime (20-1), Athenian Guard (50-1), Lions Bay (30-1), Heart to Heart (30-1), One Destiny (30-1), Niigon Express (30-1), and Ami’s Holiday (10-1).