queen's plate | Horse Racing Free Tips

Queen’s Plate Generates Third-Highest Handle in History

Saturday’s live program at Woodbine, featuring the coronavirus-delayed Queen’s Plate, generated betting turnover of $14,532,678, nearly $3.5 million of that on the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown alone. The handle ranks as the third-highest in the history of the race.

“While this year’s Queen’s Plate might be remembered for not having fans in the stands, I would much rather it be remembered for the collective efforts of so many people that allowed this race to be run and its storied history continued to be written,” said Jim Lawson, CEO, Woodbine Entertainment. “On behalf of Woodbine, a sincere thank you to our staff, partners and the entire horse racing community for everything they did make this day possible. Over the past several months, we have certainly proved that we are stronger together and this historic handle is surely representative of that.”

Wagering wrapped up on this year’s Plate program with a Jackpot Hi-5 mandatory payout in the 13th race finale. The Jackpot Hi-5 pool included a carryover of $211,780.52, with $773,571 in new money wagered. With 4-1 favourite Guestimation holding off 9-2 second choice Giant Critic in a win photo and leading a 6-4-13-12-11 top five finish order, winning horseplayers received a return of $10,080.19 for a 20-cent ticket.

The Queen’s Plate undercard also featured the GII Canadian S., won in an upset by Rideforthecause (Candy Ride {Arg}), the Bison City S., the Ruling Angel S. and the King Corrie S.

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A ‘Storied History Continued’: $14.5 Million Wagered On 161st Queen’s Plate Program

Mighty Heart's dominant performance in the 161st running of the Queen's Plate highlighted a day of racing that produced the third highest wagering handle in its storied history.

The 13-race card generated a total of $14,532,678, including $3,494,496 on The Queen's Plate race that saw one-eyed Mighty Heart live up to his name, defeating his 13 rivals after going off at 13-1.

“While this year's Queen's Plate might be remembered for not having fans in the stands, I would much rather it be remembered for the collective efforts of so many people that allowed this race to be run and its storied history continued to be written,” said Jim Lawson, CEO, Woodbine Entertainment. “On behalf of Woodbine, a sincere thank you to our staff, partners and the entire horse racing community for everything they did make this day possible. Over the past several months we have certainly proved that we are stronger together and this historic handle is surely representative of that.”

Other highlights on the day included impressive performances by Bison City Stakes winner Mizzen Beau at odds of 8-1 and Grade 2 Canadian Stakes champion Rideforthecause in a 22-1 upset.

Wagering wrapped up on this year's Plate program with a Jackpot Hi-5 mandatory payout in the 13th race finale. The Jackpot Hi-5 pool included a carryover of $211,780.52, with $773,571 in new money wagered. With 4-1 favorite Guestimation holding off 9-2 second choice Giant Critic in a win photo and leading a 6-4-13-12-11 top five finish order, winning horseplayers received a return of $10,080.19 for a 20-cent ticket.

The 2020 Queen's Plate was run without the general public in attendance

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Josie Carroll Wins Third Queen’s Plate As Mighty Heart Romps In 161st Running Of Canadian Classic

Mighty Heart lived up to his name in a dominating score in the 161st running of the Queen's Plate, as the one-eyed colt trounced his 13 rivals on Saturday at Woodbine in Toronto, Ontario.

Originally slated for June 27, North America's oldest continually run race was moved to September 12 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

For the connections of Mighty Heart, it was well worth the wait.

Bred and owned by Lawrence Cordes, the son of Dramedy flew under the radar leading up to the Plate, but the Ontario-bred bay, in his first stakes test, landed in the winner's circle courtesy of a sensational coast-to-coast score in the $1 million classic.

Sent off at 13-1, Mighty Heart, trained by Josie Carroll, was directed to the front from post 13 as first-time Plate jockey Daisuke Fukumoto guided his charge over to the rail as the field passed the wire for the first time.

Mighty Heart was joined to the outside by Tecumseh's War, while Truebelieve sat third, with Plate Trial champion Clayton settling in fourth. Woodbine Oaks presented by Budweiser champ and Plate mutuel favorite Curlin's Voyage was forced into an outside journey as the field headed into the first turn of the 1 1/4-mile Tapeta test.

There was no change in the top four positions as Mighty Heart led the field through an opening quarter-mile in :23.57.

One-length on top after a half-mile in :47.61, Mighty Heart was still yet to be tested, but just after the 1:12.70 three-quarters mark, Curlin's Voyage, under Patrick Husbands, began a bid from eighth. Rafael Hernandez, aboard Clayton, attempted to get the jump on the Oaks champ, and soon engaged the pacesetter.

As the field turned for home, Clayton was roused to engage Mighty Heart, but to no avail, as the leader easily repelled the challenge and rocketed home to a rousing 7 1/2-length victory.

Belichick, under Slade Callaghan, rallied to grab second spot, while Clayton settled for third, a neck in front of Tecumseh's War. Curlin's Voyage, Canada's champion two-year-old filly, was a head back in fifth.

It was a one-two Plate finish for Carroll, who celebrated her third “Gallop for the Guineas” crown. The Canadian Hall of Fame inductee took the 2006 edition with Edenwold and the 2011 running with filly Inglorious.

The final time was 2:01.98, the second fastest Plate run since 1957. Izvestia, who went on to win the 1990 Triple Crown, won in 2:01 4/5.

“I was concerned for a minute or two with the quick fractions but he looked like he was settling and doing it easily,” said Carroll. “We knew he'd go all day and he sure did. You know what, he's just a very exciting horse who's come a long way for Mr. Cordes, who's had a lot of confidence in him from the start.”

Fukumoto and Carroll are now a perfect three-for-three when teaming together.

“Unbelievable,” said Fukumoto, making his first Plate start. “I can't explain…he's feeling good today, he bolt good. I saw that nobody [was leaving] so I just sent him and he just kept going. After the wire, he still kept going, he didn't stop there.”

Mighty Heart is now 2-0-1 from five starts. He broke his maiden in his third start, a 4 1/4-length score at 1 1/16 miles on July 11 at Woodbine, and arrived at the Plate off a third-place performance at the same distance.

“He was sharp today,” praised Fukumoto. “I thought it was fast but I took the lead so I can't do anything, you know…I let him go. He only has one eye, but he's got a big heart, a mighty heart.”

The $400,000 Prince of Wales Stakes, a 1 3/16-mile race over Fort Erie's dirt oval, is the next race in the tri-surface OLG Canadian Triple Crown series, which winds up with the $400,000 Breeders' Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course.

Wando, in 2003, was the last horse to sweep the series and the seventh since its exception in 1959.

Mighty Heart returned $28.50, $13.80 and $8.20, combining with Belichick ($20.90, $12.10) for a $730.40 (13-3) exactor. A 13-3-12 (Clayton, $4.20 to show) triactor paid $1,878.70 for a $1 ticket, while a $1 Superfecta [13-3-12-14 (Tecumseh's War)] was worth $19,389.75.

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A ‘Mighty’ Upset in the Queen’s Plate

Odds were that if Hall of Fame trainer Josie Carroll was going to win her third Queen’s Plate, it’d come with heavy favorite and Woodbine Oaks winner Curlin’s Voyage. Instead, her other two entrants made up a longshot exacta, with lightly raced and one-eyed Mighty Heart dominating the Canadian Classic. Fourth in a rained-off Fair Grounds mile event in February, the bay colt bore out on the turn and crossed the wire 11th when getting on the grass there a month later (he was later officially moved up one spot due to a medication DQ). He broke through by daylight over a couple of these foes going 8 1/2 panels on the Tapeta July 11 and was most recently third–one slot behind Tecumseh’s War (Summer Front)–in a nine-furlong allowance Aug. 1.

Tugging his way to the front from the 13 hole while on his incorrect lead, the homebred settled somewhat and continued along on an uncontested lead through splits of :23.57, :47.61 and 1:12.70. He was briefly headed by Plate Trial winner Clayton around the bend as Curlin’s Voyage revved up wider, but swatted them all away and ran up the score from there. Maiden Belichick made a good late run to round out a C$961 triactor.

“I was concerned for a minute or two with the quick fractions but he looked like he was settling and doing it easily,” said Carroll. “We knew he’d go all day and he sure did. You know what, he’s just a very exciting horse who’s come a long way for [owner/breeder Larry] Cordes, who’s had a lot of confidence in him from the start.”

It was winning rider Daisuke Fukumoto’s first Queen’s Plate ride.

“Unbelievable,” said Fukumoto. “I can’t explain…he’s feeling good today… I saw that nobody [was going for the lead] so I just sent him and he just kept going. After the wire, he still kept going, he didn’t stop there.”

The young pilot, who notched his first-ever stakes win Aug. 22, continued, “He was sharp today. I thought it was fast but I took the lead so I can’t do anything, you know…I let him go. He only has one eye, but he’s got a big heart, a mighty heart.”

Pedigree Notes:

Mighty Heart is the second of two black-type winners for the Distorted Humor stallion Dramedy, winner of the 2015 GII Dixiana Elkhorn S. at Keeneland. Dramedy originally stood his first two years at War Horse Place in Kentucky, then moved to River Oaks Farm in Oklahoma for another two seasons prior to being sold to Saudi Arabia for the 2020 season. With a mere 29 foals from his two crops of racing age, Dramedy has had nine individual winners from 16 starters. His other stakes winner is Southgate, who broke his maiden last year in the restricted Iowa Stallion Futurity. Mighty Heart’s modest female side was void of black-type after his fourth dam until Saturday’s score, while his unraced broodmare sire, the Storm Cat stallion City Place, has three stakes winners out of his daughters, including the Queen’s Plate winner. Emma’s Bullseye’s most recent foal is the unraced 2-year-old filly Evelyn’s Delight (Silver Max).

Saturday, Woodbine
QUEEN’S PLATE S., C$1,002,400, Woodbine, 9-12, (C), 3yo, 1 1/4m (AWT), 2:01.98, ft.
1–MIGHTY HEART, 126, c, 3, by Dramedy
1st Dam: Emma’s Bullseye, by City Place
2nd Dam: Fleeting April, by Northern Afleet
3rd Dam: April’s Luci, by Sunny Clime
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Lawrence Cordes; B-Larry Cordes
(ON); T-Josie Carroll; J-Daisuke Fukumoto. C$600,000. Lifetime
Record: 5-2-0-1, $508,506.
2–Belichick, 126, c, 3, Lemon Drop Kid–Game (Fr), by Montjeu
(Ire). ($300,000 Ylg ’18 KEESEP). O-NK Racing & LNJ Foxwoods;
B-Sean Fitzhenry (ON); T-Josie Carroll. C$200,000.
3–Clayton, 126, c, 3, Bodemeister–Smarthalf, by Smart Strike.
($16,000 Wlg ’17 KEENOV; $50,000 Ylg ’18 KEESEP). O-Donato
Lanni & Daniel Plouffe; B-Bernard & Karen McCormack (ON);
T-Kevin Attard. C$100,000.
Margins: 7HF, 2 1/4, NK. Odds: 13.25, 26.60, 3.00.
Also Ran: Tecumseh’s War, Curlin’s Voyage, Merveilleux, Dotted Line, Glorious Tribute, Truebelieve, Holyfield, Olliemyboy, F F Rocket, Sweepin Hard, Halo Again.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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