King's Plate kicks off Canadian Triple Crown
By: Nick Costa, Trackside with Trackman
Nine Canadian-bred three-year-old horses from three separate trainers make up more than two-thirds of the 13-horse field for the 165th King’s Plate, including a formidable trio from conditioner Mark Casse, who is looking to win his fourth Plate. The “big three’ from the Casse stable are led by My Boy Prince, champion two-year-old of 2023 and Plate Trial winner. His stablemates, Essex Serpent and Midnight Mascot, finished first and third, respectively in the June 29th G3 Marine Stakes.
The 2024 running of the King’s Plate won’t disappoint racing fans who root for the opposite sex, because what is the Plate without filly representation, right? Usually, the winner of the Woodbine Oaks heads to the Plate, but this year, the Oaks runner-up, Caitlinhrgreatness, trained by another Plate winning trainer Kevin Attard, challenges the boys. Attard will also saddle Jokestar, 5th in the Plate Trial, Pierre, who is coming off a third-place allowance finish on the grass and the maiden, Bedard.
Recent maiden winner, Vitality and stablemate, Rafaroo, who is still a maiden, but was 2nd in the Plate Trail, hail from the Harold LaDouceur barn.
Following the King’s Plate, the next stop on the Triple Crown Road will be at Fort Erie Racetrack, on September 10th, for the Prince of Wales Stakes. The series will then conclude back at Woodbine on September 29th, with the running of the Breeders’ Stakes. The last horse to sweep the series was Wando (2003).
Posttime for the Plate is 6:10 p.m. E.S.T.
7 – My Boy Prince is the deserving morning-line favorite and probable betting favorite. He comes into the Plate riding a three-race win streak and has won 6 of 10 lifetime starts with only a single out of the money finish. He appears to simply have a class edge over his Plate rivals and showed perseverance and determination when winning the Trail after rearing up at the start. However, legitimate concerns arise about the difficult Plate distance for this sprinter-miler, which allow a few others a chance to upset the 2-year-old champ.
2 – Rafaroo – Maiden outran his long odds in both his starts. He rallied from last in his debut to finish second and then stepped up significantly in class when testing deeper waters in the Plate Trial to be second best again. He made a quick move on the far turn, going wide into the lane. He chased the winner (My Boy Prince) home but ran out of real estate. With only two lifetime races, he may have more to offer, and his Plate Trial performance certainly proved he belongs with this group.
3 – Essex Serpent only began racing this season and sports an 2-1-0 record after just three starts, improving in each outing. He was the winner of the G3 Marine Stakes, and although he raced on the lead for much of the way over a speed favoring surface, it was an impressive and sharp score, nonetheless. His breeding suggests he will stay the distance.
4 - Caitlinhrgreatness led in the Oaks, only to be caught late. She had to be supplemented to the Plate for 25k, but fillies traditionally perform well in the event, having won 38 times and five out of the last 13 years. The filly has improved her form since arriving in Canada and recently drilled a five-furlong morning work. She fits here with the boys.
5 – Midnight Mascot – He rallied nicely over the speed-conducive track to finish non-threatening third in the G3 Marine Stakes, marking a much-improved effort. If he can build upon it, he has every chance to win. Looks like he will appreciate the added distance.
WAGER:
With our $100 mythical ThoroFan dollars, we will make the following wagers.
$50 win bet on Caitlinhergrtness
$20 exacta box Cailinhergrtness/My Boy Prince
$10 win saver Essex Serpent
Good luck and as always, enjoy the race!
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