TORONTO, May 29 – Last year’s Kingarvie Stakes champ Kingsport will make his sophomore debut on Friday as he looks to step forward as a key contender for the 156th running of The Queen’s Plate. Trained by Sid Attard for owners Goldmart Farm and Royal Laser Racing, the dark bay son of Milwaukee Brew posted a record of 2-0-1 from four juvenile starts while keeping some heady company. Third in a key race in his September 12 debut won by Knowitall, the second-place finisher, Executive One, and Kingsport both came back to win their next start. Kingsport graduated on October 5 in a seven furlong maiden allowance by 2 ½-lengths over Nipigon – – Nipigon would go on to finish second in the Coronation Futurity. After a brief freshening, Kingsport returned on November 8 and ran into a tough field while trying stakes company for the first time when fourth in the Frost King, a seven furlong sprint, won by Phil’s Cocktail. However, a first attempt around two-turns next time out in the 1 1/16-miles Kingarvie suited Kingsport to a ‘t’ as the colt went all the way on the engine to notch a 3 ¾-length win. Jesse Campbell, aboard for all but the Kingarvie win due to an injury, will ride Kingsport in Friday’s fifth race at Woodbine, a seven furlong sprint for three-year-olds and upwards. Additional Queen’s Plate nominees in action this weekend include: SATURDAY MAY 30TH Gilded Kingdom (Race 4, WO)Java’s Bourbon (Race 4, WO)Shot for Shot (Race 4, WO)Ransom the Moon (Race 5, WO)Pulpego (Race 5, WO)Three Ring Circus (Race 9, WO)Masquerade Party (Race 9, WO) SUNDAY MAY 31ST Dyna’s Recoleta (Race 2, WO) * Last week was light on results for potential Queen’s Plate contenders with filly Season Ticket, who finished fourth in the Grade 3 Selene, the only potential hopeful to reach our radar with a game five-wide move down the lane in the 1 1/16-miles event. A run at the Woodbine Oaks, presented by Budweiser, seems likely. * A number of key contenders popped up on the work tab last week including: Unbridled Juan breezed five furlongs in 1:01 on May 25 on the Woodbine main.West Village breezed four furlongs in :50 on May 26 at Churchill Downs.Portree breezed four furlongs in :48.60 on May 29 on the Woodbine dirt training track.Decision Day breezed four furlongs in :48 on May 29 on the Woodbine training turf. * @TripleDeadHeat’s Top 5 Queen’s Plate Contenders list as of May 29. The list remains unchanged this week. Horse / Trainer / Owner1. Danzig Moon / Mark Casse / John Oxley 2. Conquest Curlinate / Mark Casse / Conquest Stables 3. Danish Dynaformer / Roger Attfield / Charles Fipke 4. Ami’s Flatter / Josie Carroll / Ivan Dalos5. Shaman Ghost / Brian Lynch / Stronach Stables The 156th running of The Queen’s Plate, the 1 1/4-mile classic which carries a $1 million purse, is set for Sunday, July 5. For more information on North America’s oldest continuously-run stakes event and first jewel in Canada’s Triple Crown of Racing, visit QueensPlate.Com Share This:Share
