TORONTO, May 1, 2018 – The 159th running of the $1-million Queen’s Plate is quickly approaching and is now just nine weeks away. The 109 Canadian-bred 3-year-olds currently nominated to the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown are continuing their preparations, and some are starting to separate themselves from the rest of the pack. Here’s an update on the latest Top 10 Queen’s Plate contenders and when we might see them next. #1 FLAMEAWAY Owner: John Oxley Breeder: Phoenix Rising Farms Trainer: Mark Casse Jockey in most recent start: Jose Lezcano Flameaway is a horse that won’t quit in the stretch, and has shown his determination in each of his four starts as a 3-year-old. In his most recent start in the Grade 2 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on April 7, Flameaway wouldn’t let 2-year-old Eclipse Award champion, Good Magic, get away with an easy victory, battling to the line to finish in the runner-up position. He’ll be looking to grind out another strong performance in Saturday’s Grade 1 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Next Start: Grade 1 Kentucky Derby, May 5, Churchill Downs Flameaway winning at Gulfstream Park. (Photo courtesy Gulfstream Park) #2 TELEKINESIS Owner: Stonestreet Stables LLC Breeder: William Graham Trainer: Mark Casse Jockey in most recent start: Javier Castellano Queen’s Plate Winterbook favourite Telekinesis has run strong speed figures in each of his three races to date, and nearly recorded his first career graded stakes victory in the Grade 3 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland on April 14, when he was nailed at the wire by Kentucky Derby contender My Boy Jack. His strong dirt form should carry over to Woodbine’s Tapeta when he makes his next start in the $125,000 Plate Trial Stakes on June 9. Next Start: Plate Trial Stakes, June 9, Woodbine Telekinesis winning on February 9 at Fair Grounds. (Hodges Photography) #3 WONDER GADOT Owner: Gary Barber Breeder: Anderson Farms Ontario Inc. Trainer: Mark Casse Jockey in most recent start: David Cabrera Trainer Mark Casse has always said Wonder Gadot would be at her best the further she ran, and she’ll get another shot at 1 1/8-miles in Friday’s Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs. In her last trip at 1 1/8-miles, Wonder Gadot was a 3 3/4-length winner in the Grade 2 Demoiselle Stakes at Aqueduct, her most recent victory. Wonder Gadot has been close in each of her four starts as a 3-year-old, and a break through performance could be on deck. Next Start: Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks, May 4, Churchill Downs Wonder Gadot winning the Mazarine Stakes (Grade 3) on October 7 at Woodbine. (Michael Burns Photography) #4 NEEPAWA Owner: Chiefswood Stable Breeder: Chiefswood Stable Trainer: Mark Casse Jockey in most recent start: Tyler Gaffalione Despite not recording a win as a 2-year-old, Neepawa ran well as a 3-year-old this winter on the turf at Gulfstream Park, recording a win and a pair of good efforts in stakes events. With a strong foundation in place, the Coronation Futurity runner-up will get some class relief when he makes his next start in an allowance race back at Woodbine. Next Start: Allowance race, Date TBD, Woodbine Neepawa winning at Gulfstream Park. (Photo courtesy Gulfstream Park) #5 SILENT STING Owner: Stronach Stables Breeder: Phoenix Rising Farms Trainer: Sid Attard Jockey in most recent start: Luis Contreras Silent Sting could be Stronach Stables best hope for a repeat in the Queen’s Plate in 2018 after winning the race with Holy Helena last season. After a runner-up finish in his stakes debut in last year’s Frost King Stakes, Silent Sting capped his juvenile campaign with a win in the Kingarvie Stakes around two turns. With some winter conditioning in Florida under his belt, Silent Sting picked up right where he left off in his 3-year-old debut with a win in the seven-furlong Queenston Stakes. Next Start: Plate Trial Stakes, June 9, Woodbine Silent Sting and jockey Luis Contreras winning the $125,000 Queenston Stakes on Sunday, April 22 at Woodbine Racetrack. (Michael Burns Photography) #6 ROSE’S VISION Owner: Chiefswood Stable Breeder: Chiefswood Stable Trainer: Stuart Simon Jockey in most recent start: Jose Lezcano After a 2-year-old campaign that saw Rose’s Vision record a pair of runner-up finishes and a third-place finish in four starts, he appears to have figured things out as a 3-year-old, and has won back-to-back starts on the turf. After breaking his maiden at Gulfstream Park on February 24, Rose’s Vision doubled up in an allowance race at Keeneland on April 12. He’ll have a chance to make it three in a row when he makes his graded stakes debut in the Grade 3 Marine Stakes at Woodbine on May 13. Next Start: Grade 3 Marine Stakes, May 13, Woodbine Rose’s Vision graduated at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 24 (Gulfstream Park Photo) #7 AHEADBYACENTURY Owner: Jack of Hearts Racing and J.R. Racing Breeder: Hill ’n’ Dale Farms Trainer: John Ross Jockey in most recent start: Rafael Hernandez The Coronation Futurity winner wintered in Florida and made a strong return to the races in the Queenston Stakes at Woodbine on April 22. He should improve with added distance. Trainer John Ross noted Aheadbyacentury has come out of the Queenston in good order, and could run back in the Grade 3 Marine Stakes at Woodbine on May 13. Next Start: Grade 3 Marine Stakes, May 13, Woodbine Aheadbyacentury winning the 2017 Coronation Futurity at Woodbine Racetrack. (Michael Burns Photo) #8 ALTERNATIVE ROUTE Owner: Spendthrift Farm LLC and Town and Country Racing LLC Breeder: William Graham Trainer: Al Stall Jr. Jockey in most recent start: Mitchell Murrill After making his career debut at Fair Grounds in December, Alternative Route has won two of his last three starts. In his most recent race, he recorded his first stakes victory, which came on a synthetic surface in the Rushaway Stakes at Turfway Park on March 17. He’ll likely make his way to Woodbine next, as he’s nominated for the Grade 3 Marine Stakes on May 13. Next Start: Grade 3 Marine Stakes, May 13, Woodbine #9 SAY THE WORD Owner: Sam-Son Farm Breeder: Sam-Son Farm Trainer: Graham Motion Jockey in most recent start: Jose Ortiz Say the Word broke his maiden in his most recent start at Keeneland on April 27. The son of More Than Ready won going 1 3/16-miles on the grass, the furthest distance any Queen’s Plate nominee has won at to date. While five of his six starts have come on the grass, Say the Word has raced on Woodbine’s Tapeta before when fifth in a maiden race here last November, and he could be making his way back north very soon. Next Start: Allowance race, Date & Location TBD #10 BE VEWY VEWY QUIET Owner: F. Di Giulio Jr., A. D’Onofrio and J. Peri Breeder: F. Di Giulio Jr., A. D’Onofrio and J. Peri Trainer: Robert Tiller Jockey in most recent start: Rafael Hernandez When Be Vewy Vewy Quiet won his debut by 11 1/4-lengths back in July, he was immediately labelled as a horse to watch. He won a pair of stakes events last season, while never missing the board in six starts as a 2-year-old. He finished a closing third behind Silent Sting in the Kingarvie Stakes in his first start around two turns last season, and will make his 3-year-old debut in Saturday’s Woodstock Stakes over six furlongs. Next Start: Woodstock Stakes, May 5, Woodbine Be Vewy Vewy Quiet (#9, inside) winning the Frost King Stakes on November 18 at Woodbine. (Michael Burns Photography) There could be a number of other Queen’s Plate contenders that emerge in the coming weeks. Be on the look out for several other Queen’s Plate nominees, including Dixie Moon, Inge, Scrapper, Sent From Heaven, Pipers Warrior, Strike Me Down and Hemp Hemp Hurray. Follow all of the action on the Road to the 159th Queen’s Plate at queensplate.com. Share This:Share
