Seventeen Canadian bred three-year-olds will battle for Canadian racing’s most prestigious prize when they break from the gate in the 164
th King's Plate on August 20 at Woodbine Racetrack.
The first King’s Plate in 70-plus years, features the most starters in over a decade, giving bettors and racing fans an intriguing handicapping puzzle.
We won't be able to predict what horse will get the best journey throughout the 1 1/4 miles over the Tapeta, but there are plenty of handicapping approaches and historical notes to help narrow down the contenders.
Plate Winning Profile
Traditionally, a King's Plate winner has plenty of foundation from races as a 2-year-old or a handful of starts as a 3-year-old.
While the G1 Kentucky Derby is run on the first Saturday in May the King’s Plate being in August gives horsepeople more time to prepare their horses for the $1 million first jewel of the Canadian Triple Crown pres. by OLG.
Looking at the last 17 King’s Plate winners, speed and stalking styles have been rewarded, and three of the last four winners all went essentially gate to wire.
A good previous effort is not a must, but horses rarely win Plate coming off a dull effort, unless there was a significant excuse. The majority of the recent Plate winners finished in on the board in their last race.
Fillies have won five of the last 12 Plates and simply must be respected. Woodbine Oaks pres. by Budweiser winner Elysian Field and runner-up Wickenheiser will take support.
The Beyer Speed Figure (found in Daily Racing Form) par for the last 10 Plates (minus the highest and lowest Beyer) is 94.
This year's field has just two horses who have Beyers in the 90s, but several have improving speed figures in recent starts.
| Year |
Plate Winner (Beyer) – Running Style |
Additional Notes |
| 2022 |
MOIRA (97) – Stalk |
Plate Trial won by Clayton in (89) |
| 2021 |
SAFE CONDUCT (88) – Speed |
Plate Trial won by Avoman (83) |
| 2020 |
MIGHTY HEART (99) – Speed |
Ran a 92 to win the Oaks in last start |
| 2019 |
ONE BAY BOY (94) – Speed |
Plate Trial won by Pay for Peace (71) |
| 2018 |
WONDER GADOT – Rally |
Plate Trial won by Telekinesis (88) |
| 2017 |
HOLY HELENA (96) – Stalk |
Ran a 94 to win the Oaks in last start |
| 2016 |
SIR DUDLEY DIGGS (85) – Stalk |
Plate trial won by Amis Gizmo (83) |
| 2015 |
SHAMAN GHOST (85) – Rally |
Ran an 86 to win the G3 Marine in last start |
| 2014 |
LEXIE LOU (91) – Rally |
Ran a 95 to win Oaks |
| 2013 |
MIDNIGHT ARIA (101) – Speed |
Plate Trial won by Dynamic Sky (88) |
| 2021 |
STRAIT OF DOVER (98) – Speed |
Ran a 93 to win Marine (Listed) in last start |
| 2011 |
INGLORIUOS (99) – Rally |
Plate Trial won by Check You Soul (90) |
| 2010 |
BIG RED MIKE (92) – Speed |
Ran a 91 to win Plate Trial in last start |
| 2009 |
EYE OF THE LEOPARD (92) – Stalk |
Ran an 85 to win Plate Trial in last start |
| 2008 |
NOT BOURBON (93) – Press |
Ran an 88 to win Plate Trial in last start |
| 2007 |
MIKE FOX (90) – Rally |
Plate Trial won by Jiggs Coz (88) |
| 2006 |
EDENWOLD (94) – Speed |
Plate Trial won by Pipers Thunder (81) |
Pace Profile
There appears to be several horses who may want to contest the pace or at least stay close to the front.
Race favourite Kalik won the Pennine Ridge Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Belmont Park in front running fashion and Plate Trial winner Paramount Prince led gate to wire.
Other possible pace runners or pressers include recent winner Silent Miracle, El Cohete and Midnight in Malibu, whose final Plate workout was a sizzling 1:10 2/5 for six furlongs.
Who Figures
Jerry Brown, founder of the successful American-based Thoro-Graph sheets, which assign a number to a horse's races based on the speed of the track and ground loss, noted four horses who have the figures to be the King’s Plate winner.
“Kaukokaipuu ran well in his first try going long, and a repeat of that would get him a piece of this. But he's heavily raced, and he's likely to bounce off the new top.
Stanley House ran the best figure of any of these two back, and if he runs back to that he's a likely winner. But we don't like the bad bounce last time, it makes us think the big one took a lot out of him.
Kalik is by far the most solid of these and with Chad Brown is almost sure to run well, he's the horse to beat. The race goes through him.
The interesting horse is Touch'n Ride. He moved forward nicely in his second start to a figure that puts him right in this.
He definitely could move forward again, though it would be better if he had more than three weeks rest for this.”
Jennifer's Analysis
With such a large field, there is always a chance of a wild upset should the favourites get tough trips but the top contenders look very strong this year.
#1 – STANLEY HOUSE appears to have all the tools to be a Plate winner, it is just a matter of getting past his sixth place finish in the Plate Trial.
The colt did break a bit flat-footed from the gate and was allowed to trail the big field and he seemed to lose interest. American rider Javier Castellano coming north to ride him again (he won on him in March in Florida) adds to the confidence level.
#15 - KAUKOKAIPUU has been carefully prepared for the Plate by trainer and co-owner Ted Holder. While the Queenston Stakes winner is coming off a 50-day absence, he has had a strong mix of workouts. Most recently he ran a game second in the Marine Stakes (G3) to an American invader trained by Chad Brown.
#6 – KALIK ships in for trainer Chad Brown and leading rider Kazushi Kimura is on board. This colt can get a bit worked up pre-race so watch him on post parade.
#17 – MOON LANDING has been disappointing this year, but he has shown flashes of talent and he gets his blinkers back on. If a really fast pace develops, that helps him.
#4 - TWIN CITY might not be a fan of the distance, but he is hard trying fellow who was third in the Plate Trial. He appears to be coming up to a peak effort.
Click here to view the entire field for the 164th King's Plate.
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