Dan Loiselle: Recalling The Thrill Of Canadian Triple Crown Victory

Dan Loiselle's crowning moment calling the thoroughbreds at Woodbine Racetrack is actually a five-part story.

It would seem only fitting that the man called more than 55,000 horse races over his distinguished hall of fame career would have something insightful to say about the Canadian Triple Crown.

Not only because history could be made on Saturday afternoon at the Toronto oval, but also because Loiselle, who retired from the announcer's booth in 2015, brought home multiple Triple Crown winners.

Five of them, to be exact.

Established in 1959, only seven horses have won the prestigious Canadian Triple Crown, comprised of the Queen's Plate, Prince of Wales Stakes and the Breeders' Stakes.

New Providence won in 1959, Canebora in 1963, With Approval in 1989, Izvestia in 1990, Dance Smartly in 1991, Peteski in 1993 and, most recently, Wando in 2003. Three of the winners, namely, Peteski, Izvestia and With Approval, were campaigned by hall of fame trainer Roger Attfield. Five horses also achieved the feat prior to its official recognition 61 years ago.

From his spot on the sixth floor of Woodbine, Loiselle, who began calling thoroughbreds in 1986, was the voice of five of those champions: With Approval, Izvestia, Dance Smartly, Peteski, and Wando.

“What I remember about my first one, in 1989, was that I was just three years into calling races at Woodbine,” he recalled. “There hadn't been a Triple Crown winner in Canada in 26 years. With Approval won the Plate by the narrowest of margins, and a real narrow margin in the Prince of Wales, both of those races contested on dirt. I had spoken to Roger [Attfield] after the Prince of Wales and he told me that the horse will be so much better on grass. And in the Breeders', he was.”

The son of Caro was money in the bank for his connections.

Literally.

“The Bank of Montreal had put up $1 million if a horse won the Triple Crown – 1989 was the first year – and With Approval won it,” noted Loiselle. “And Roger was right… With Approval turned out to be a tremendous grass horse.”

Loiselle didn't have to wait long to call his next Triple Crown winner.

It would be just one year, in fact.

“Izvestia, also trained by Roger, won it in 1990. [Jockey] Don Seymour won it back-to-back, and so did Kinghaven Farms. Izvestia won the Breeders' so easily as well. Again, it was the second straight year for the $1 million Bank of Montreal bonus.”

In 1991, it was a filly's turn to step into the Triple Crown spotlight, a magnificent Sam-Son Farm star who would go on to become a top-tier talent on the world stage.

“Dance Smartly… just a fantastic horse,” praised Losielle. “She won the Woodbine Oaks, the Queen's Plate, Prince of Wales and in the Breeders' Stakes, [jockey] Pat Day didn't even touch her. She won so easily. She went on that year to win the Breeders' Cup Distaff, and was named the Eclipse champion 3-year-old filly of the year, won a Sovereign Award as Canada's horse of the year, and was inducted into both the U.S. and Canadian halls of fame. She was also the dam of two Queen's Plate winners, Scatter the Gold [2000] and Dancethruthedawn [2001]. She was absolutely spectacular.”

Loiselle had to wait only two years to make his next Crown call when Peteski, owned by Earle Mack, delivered Attfield his third trophy.

“He won the Plate – I don't know if [jockey] Craig Perret had a previous commitment – but Dave Penna rode him in the Prince of Wales. In the Breeders' Stakes, on national television, the saddle slipped on Peteski early in the race, so the saddle was up close to his shoulder. He was much the best. Perret, like Pat Day in 1991 on Dance Smartly, he just hand rode him through the stretch. If memory serves me correctly, he was the lowest-priced [$2.20 to win] Breeders' winner.”

Robert Geller, who took over the Woodbine thoroughbred announcer reins from Loiselle in 2015, was at the Toronto oval for Peteski's triple tour-de-force finale.

He can recall the Breeders' victory as though it were yesterday.

“My fondest memory of the Canadian Triple Crown was the win by Peteski in the 1993 Breeders' Stakes,” noted Geller. “It coincided with my trip to Toronto and I watched the race on track at Woodbine alongside [Woodbine vice-president of racing at the time] John Whitson. That week, leading Hong Kong jockey Tony Cruz happened to be a special guest with his family, not that either of us had checked in on our off-season plans. The track went out of its way to make him feel welcome and fortuitously, such hospitality was extended to me too.”

His thought that a particular longshot could derail Peteski's bid for the record books didn't go over well with his host, but the English-born, Australian-raised Geller was only too happy to have been wrong with his pick.

“At the time, I didn't fully understand the rigors of the Canadian Triple Crown, but loved the fact that a three-year-old had to win on turf to clinch it,” said Geller. “Being slightly contrarian, I mentioned a possible upsetter to Peteski to John, who didn't seem too impressed by that suggestion. Fortunately, there was never cause for concern as Peteski won as expected, becoming Canada's 11th Triple Crown winner.”

Wando, a horse that would become one of Canada's most beloved racing figures was the country's 12th Crown champion.

Bred and owned by the late Gus Schickedanz, the stunning chestnut's chase for greatness was front-page news in 2003.

For Loiselle, it is still one of his most cherished racing recollections.

“It was really fantastic. He was the people's horse. My biggest thoughts about Wando and the Breeders' – and I have a lot of them – is the hype that surrounded the race. I even did a commercial about Wando before the Breeders'. As the horses are going into the gate – a mile and a half – and they're right in front of me, I said, 'And the people's horse, Wando, is loading into the gate, a couple minutes away from his destiny.' And the people went crazy.”

The deafening roar of the crowd that had packed the grandstand would only grow louder as Wando, under siege every step of the way, finally put away his rivals down the long E.P. Taylor Turf Course stretch.

Said Loiselle over the rising crescendo, “They come to the final sixteenth, and Canada salutes the Breeders' Stakes winner and the Triple Crown champion… Wando was better than wonderful this afternoon, he was magnificent!”

Wando was also the one Loiselle will never forget.

“Of all the Triple Crown winners, that's the one that stands out in my mind because people were absolutely in love with him. When Patrick [jockey, Husbands] came back in front of the crowd with Gus leading him, it was unforgettable. Mike [trainer, Keogh] is a good friend and he did a masterful job with Wando. Of all the five, it stands out as the most treasured one for me.”

No other horse has recorded the sweep since Wando did 17 years ago.

On Saturday, that could change.

Mighty Heart, the one-eyed wonder bred and owned by Lawrence Cordes, humbled his foes in the Queen's Plate before winning the Prince of Wales in similarly impressive fashion.

Now, the Josie Carroll trainee, who has already built a huge fan following, will seek to become No. 13.

Geller is hoping he'll be able to call his first Canadian Triple Crown.

“I am especially looking forward to seeing the rematch between Mighty Heart and stablemate Belichick. Admittedly, Mighty Heart trounced his rivals in the Queen's Plate but runner-up Belichick closed with interest off a light foundation and represents a serious threat to thwart the barn's Triple Crown aspirations, especially since he has proven from his debut that he can handle grass.

“Let me just say, hats off to Josie Carroll on an exceptional season, having brought the best out of her stakes quality runners and kept them fresh. Mighty Heart seemed to sneak under the radar but is now one of racing's most compelling stories at a time when the industry in North America could really do with a feelgood story.”

Woodbine's track announcer would love the opportunity to deliver it, in his way, to racing fans from coast-to-coast and beyond.

It's a moment he's thought of numerous times in the days leading up to the 129th edition of the Breeders' Stakes.

Geller has also recalled where he was nearly 30 years ago, albeit in a different spot from where he'll be at Woodbine on Saturday.

“To be in the position to call the action, 27 years after having witnessed Peteski's victory live, is something I could never have dreamed of. Fingers crossed, this one-eyed wonder and his gifted rider, Daisuke Fukumoto, make racing history.”

Loiselle and a legion of others share that very same hope.

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Canadian Triple Crown Contender: Breeders’ Stakes Draw To Be Streamed Live On Oct. 21

The post position draw for the 129th running of the $400,000 Breeders' Stakes, third and final jewel of the OLG Canadian Triple Crown, will be streamed live online next Wednesday, Oct. 21 at Woodbine Racetrack.

The post draw show will be hosted by racing analyst Jason Portuondo live from Woodbine Racetrack's broadcast studio and paddock at 12 noon, with an appearance by Jim Lawson, President and CEO of Woodbine Entertainment.

The connections of Mighty Heart will join the show to discuss the Queen's Plate and Prince of Wales Stakes winner's pursuit of making Canadian sports history with a sweep of the OLG Canadian Triple Crown.

The show will also feature Michael Keogh, the 2020 Hall of Fame inductee who campaigned the last Triple Crown winner, Wando, during his 2003 series sweep, and jockey Patrick Husbands.

Live streaming will be available on Woodbine's website at Woodbine.com and Facebook page.

The Breeders' Stakes, featuring Canada's finest 3-year-old Thoroughbreds, will be contested over 1-1/2 miles on Woodbine's E.P. Taylor Turf Course on Saturday, Oct. 24.

Entries are due 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday. Here is a look at probable starters for the Breeders' Stakes:

Horse – Trainer – Owner

Belichick – Josie Carroll – NK Racing and LNJ Foxwoods

Clayton – Kevin Attard – Donato Lanni and Daniel Plouffe

Deviant – Mark Casse – Red Lane Thoroughbreds LLC

Enchant Me – Santino Di Paola – York Tech Racing Stable

*English Conqueror – Darwin Banach – JWS Farms

Glorious Tribute – Barbara Minshall – Bruce Lunsford

Kunal – Steven Chircop – Vincente Stella Stables LLC

Meyer – Martin Drexler – Bruno Schickedanz

Mighty Heart – Josie Carroll – Lawrence Cordes

Muskoka Giant – Mark Casse – Conrad Farms

Olliemyboy – Sid Attard – JMJ Racing Stables LLC

*Told It All – Norm McKnight – Rainbow Stables

*Possible supplements

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Clayton, Filly Curlin’s Voyage Take On 12 Rivals In Saturday’s Queen’s Plate

Plate Trial champ Clayton and multiple stakes-winning filly Curlin's Voyage will take on 12 other Queen's Plate hopefuls in the $1 million classic set for 1 ¼ miles on the Woodbine Tapeta this Saturday.

The 161st edition of the Queen's Plate, North America's oldest continually run race, is the first leg of the OLG Canadian Triple Crown, a tri-surface series for Canadian-bred three-year-olds.

Wando, bred and owned by the late Gustav Schickedanz, was the last horse to accomplish the feat while becoming the seventh to record the unique triple in 2003. The $400,000 Prince of Wales, run at 1 3/16 miles on the dirt at Fort Erie on September 29, is the second leg. The $400,000 Breeders' Stakes, at 1 ½ miles over the world-renowned E.P. Taylor Turf Course at Woodbine on October 24, concludes the series.

The double-draw format was in place for Wednesday's virtual post position draw, with the order of selection first established and the connections then choosing their post positions. The connections of Glorious Tribute selected first and chose post seven.

This year's edition of the Queen's Plate showcases an intriguing mix of heavyweight contenders, live longshots and emerging stars. Fillies will carry 123 pounds, while all other starters carry 126 pounds.

A son of Bodemeister, Clayton has three wins and one second from four starts for owners Donato Lanni and Daniel Plouffe.

Trained by Kevin Attard, who also sends out the filly Merveilleux, the bay colt arrives at the Plate in sharp form, having won two straight, including the Plate Trial on August 15.

Bred by Bernard and Karen McCormack, Clayton will be piloted by Rafael Hernandez, who won the 2015 Plate with Shaman Ghost.

Attard, who finished second with the late Steve Stavro homebred Alezzandro in the 2007 running, likes what he sees ahead of the big race.

“He's been special from the get-go,” praised Attard. “He was an impressive maiden winner, so once that happened, the bell starts ringing in your head, and you're saying, 'Hey, maybe I've got a good three-year-old here.' He followed it up with a good race first time out this year – didn't win but had traffic trouble – and I think he learned a lot. That was encouraging. Obviously, he's won his last two since then and stretched out. He's doing everything you want him to. Hopefully, he just needs to get a little bit better one more time and maybe he can put everything together.”

Curlin's Voyage, who took this year's running of the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks presented by Budweiser, could deliver Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee Josie Carroll her third Plate victory.

Carroll, who won the Queen's Plate with filly Inglorious in 2011 and with Edenwold in 2006, will also have Belichick and Mighty Heart go postward in her quest to net the hat trick.

Named champion two-year-old filly in Canada, Curlin's Voyage is bred by Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings, Inc., who co-owns with Windsor Boys Racing.

What's impressed Carroll the most when it comes to the filly that sports a 5-2-1 mark from nine career outings?

“Her consistency. She finds a way to get it done. She always shows up and she's a very, very special filly.”

The multiple stakes winning daughter of Curlin will seek to become fourth filly to win the Queen's Plate in the last seven years.

Over the last 10 years, three Oaks winners have gone on to win the Plate: Inglorious, Lexie Lou (2014) and Holy Helena (2017).

“We've always thought very highly of her after her two-year-old debut,” praised Carroll, of Curlin's Voyage. “She's a very uncomplicated filly and does everything you ask of her.”

Patrick Husbands, who won the Canadian Triple Crown with Wando in 2003, and the 2014 Plate with Lexie Lou, will be in the irons.

Halo Again, trained by Steve Asmussen for Winchell Thoroughbreds and Willis Horton Racing, knows the Woodbine main track well.

Last year, the son of Speightstown took the Coronation Futurity Stakes. This year, the bay colt won the Queenston Stakes, and most recently, finished a game second, a half-length back of Clayton, in the Plate Trial.

“We feel very good about his chances,” said Asmussen. “I thought he stayed on nicely [in the Plate Trial]. He came out of the race in great shape.”

Jockey Luis Contreras, who teamed with Inglorious to win the 2011 Plate, and partnered Holy Helena to victory in 2017, could give Asmussen his first win in the “Gallop for the Guineas.”

Having never finished lower than fifth in eight career outings, Dotted Line will look to connect the dots for his biggest win to date this Saturday.

Bred and owned by Howard Walton (Norseman Racing Stable), the son of Signature Red has three career wins, including a 49-1 upset in last year's Frost King Stakes.

Dotted Line was third in the Plate Trial, just a shade over a half-length behind Clayton, with Justin Stein in the irons. The British Columbia-born rider won the 2012 Plate with Strait of Dover.

“He's a horse that always tries every time,” said Attard, who won the Atto Mile (G1) with Numerous Times in 2001 and the Northern Dancer Turf Stakes (G1) with Interpol in 2015. “He has run a lot of good races, and hopefully, he comes up with his biggest one on Saturday. He's coming around really nicely.”

Attard, who has started seven horses in the Queen's Plate – his best finish coming in 1992 when Grand Hooley finished second to Alydeed – also sends out Olliemyboy.

Owned by NK Racing and LNJ Foxwoods, Belichick arrives at the Queen's Plate off a second-place effort on August 1 in a 1 1/8-mile main track race at Woodbine.

Bred by Sean Fitzhenry, the bay colt is a son of 1999 Belmont Stakes winner and multiple graded stakes champ Lemon Drop Kid.

Belichick finished third in his career bow on July 4 at Woodbine.

“He came to me in Florida this winter,” noted Carroll. “He's a tremendous-moving horse that impressed from the start. We put the Plate on our radar right at that time. His first two starts, he was very green and unfocused, and he just now seems to be pulling it together. He's a horse that had enough talent to be given a chance in there [Plate].”

Bred by Josham Farms Limited, F F Rocket launches his Woodbine debut in the Plate.

Owned by Frank Fletcher Racing Operations Inc., the son of Curlin broke his maiden in his most recent start, a two-length triumph at 1 mile and 70 yards over Presque Isle Downs' main track.

The chestnut, trained by Albert Stall Jr. (he won the 2010 Breeders' Cup when Blame bested Zenyatta), debuted at Fair Grounds last December, before a pair of races at Oaklawn Park to start his three-year-old campaign.

Glorious Tribute, trained by Barbara Minshall for Bruce Lunsford, finished fourth in the Plate Trial at 62-1.

The son of Congrats, who was third to Halo Again in this year's Queenston Stakes, broke his maiden in the final start of his two-year-old campaign.

Minshall was Canada's champion trainer in 1996. Her top horses include Mt. Sassafras, Strut the Course, Kiridashi, Stephanotis and Stacked Deck. She became the first female conditioner to win a Triple Crown race – in both the U.S. and Canada – when Kiridashi won the Prince of Wales Stakes in 1995.

Holyfield will look to provide a knockout Plate punch for the combination of trainer Catherine Day Phillips and Kingfield Racing Stable Ltd., along with co-owners and breeders David Anderson and Rod Ferguson.

The son of Uncle Mo dug down gamely in a 1 1/16 mile turf race on August 22 at Woodbine, notching a head score at 9-1 to break his maiden.

Al and Bill Ulwelling's Merveilleux endured traffic troubles in the Woodbine Oaks, finishing a game third, 2 ¼ lengths behind Curlin's Voyage.

Fashioning a record of 2-3-1 from eight starts, the daughter of Paynter finished second, a neck and a head back, respectively, in last year's Princess Elizabeth Stakes and Ontario Lassie Stakes.

“I honestly think what has made her special is from day one of purchasing her she has been professional,” said Al Ulwelling. “What I mean is that she has just been all business. She loves her career, loves to train and compete. She has had a few tough beats and it's almost like it has bothered her. She's very smart and tries hard. She will be great addition to our broodmare band when all is said and done.”

Bred by Mike Carroll, the bay filly is trained by Kevin Attard. Kazushi Kimura, the 2018 and 2019 champion apprentice in Canada, and 2019 Eclipse Award winner as North America's top rider, gets the mount.

“Honestly, I just think she's just been a very unfortunate horse this year, racing luck wise,” said Attard. “Things haven't quite gone her way. I had high expectations for her in the Oaks. She showed a lot of talent at two and we were really excited to have her. With her, we considered the Plate right from the get-go. The mile and a quarter distance is not going to be an issue for her.

“She's just one horse that you're hoping on that day everything goes right for her and she finally gets a clear run, no obstacles, no hurdles – that way she can prove whether she's good enough or not and there's no excuses. She's doing very well and I'm quite please with her. Both horses [Merveilleux and Clayton] are coming into the race as good as I want them to be.”

The Ulwellings are thrilled at the opportunity to have a Plate starter.

“It means everything to us to have a horse in the Plate,” said Ulwelling. “When we started mapping a goal out four years ago, we set out on a mission to try to stay at Woodbine and run in as many big races as we can. When my father and I were getting a plan together, the race that always popped up was the Plate. We honestly just feel lucky to be competing in a race with so much history. We love Kevin, his family, Woodbine, and the people who work there. This will be our goal every year. We are ecstatic to be in the Plate.”

One-eyed Mighty Heart will be making his stakes debut in the Plate.

Bred and owned by Lawrence Cordes, the son of Dramedy has a win and a third from four career starts, those efforts coming in his past two starts.

On July 11, the Josie Carroll trainee broke outward, but recovered and went on to a 4 ¼-length victory at 1 1/16 miles over the Woodbine Tapeta.

“Mighty Heart is a horse that will definitely get the distance,” said Carroll. “He has improved leaps and bounds as he's learned. From his first two starts where he had no clue what he was doing, he's really become professional.”

A dark bay son of Union Rags, Olliemyboy recorded his first career win in his latest start, a two-length triumph at 1 1/8 miles over the Woodbine main track on August 1.

Owned by JMJ Racing Stables LLC, the Ontario-bred colt finished fourth in his debut at Tampa Bay Downs this March before heading north to Woodbine.

Steve Bahen, who won the 2002 Plate with 82-1 T J's Lucky Moon, will get the mount for the Plate for Hall of Fame trainer Sid Attard.

“It was a very good race,” said the trainer of the August 1 score. “He closed very strong and he was full of run. He is learning and getting better with each race. I think the distance is no problem for this horse.”

Trained by Dan Vella, who won the 1994 Plate with Basqueian and the 2012 edition with Strait of Dover, Sweepin Hard, a son of Conquest Curlinate, enters the biggest race of his career on a winning note.

Owned by Borders Racing Stable, Sweepin Hard notched a 1 ½-length score over 1 1/8 miles on the Toronto oval Tapeta on August 16.

Bred by Charles Hayden, the dark bay gelding was unraced at two.

Tecumseh's War, a dark bay son of Summer Front, won his debut last October at Indiana Downs.

Making his eighth career start in the Plate, the Catherine Day Phillips trainee finished second in his latest engagement, a 1 1/8 mile race over the Woodbine main track.

Emma-Jayne Wilson, who draws the riding assignment, is looking for her second “Gallop for the Guineas” victory with the Ilium Stable silk bearer. The champion rider won the 2007 Plate With Mike Fox.

Truebelieve, who sports a 2-1-0 mark from five starts, is owned by Centennial Farms (Niagara).

The bay son of Nephrite (GB), bred by Laurel Byrne, orchestrated a 64-1 score (for different connections) in his debut last November at Woodbine, crossing the wire a 1 ½-length winner at five furlongs on the Tapeta.

Trained by 23-year-old Manitoba native Cole Bennett, Truebelieve earned his second career win two starts ago when the colt rallied for a half-length victory at six furlongs over the Woodbine main track.

“I think… it's not proof to other people, but proof to myself that I can do this,” said Bennett. “I started training when I was really young. There was doubt from a lot of other people, but also from myself, in that you can make a living being a trainer and get to bigger places and run in bigger races. It was almost a pipe dream at one point. To be in this race, it really is a dream come true. To win it, that would be the ultimate.”

First race post time for Saturday is 12:30 p.m. (ET), with the featured Queen's Plate scheduled as race 10 (5:41 p.m.). The national Plate broadcast will be televised on TSN and CTV starting at 4:30 p.m.

For the latest information, fans can follow @WoodbineTB on both Twitter and Instagram, and visit QueensPlate.com.

FIELD FOR THE QUEEN'S PLATE

Post – Horse – Trainer – Owner – Jockey – Morning Line

1 – Sweepin Hard (S) – Daniel Vella – Borders Racing Stable – Leo Salles – 50-1

2 – Merveilleux – Kevin Attard – Al and Bill Ulwelling – Kazushi Kimura – 10-1

3 – Belichick – Josie Carroll – NK Racing & LNJ Foxwoods – Slade Callaghan – 30-1

4 – Truebelieve – Cole Bennett – Centennial Farms (Niagara) – Keveh Nicholls – 30-1

5 – Holyfield – Catherine Day Phillips – Kingfield Racing Stable, Roderick Ferguson & Anderson Farms Ontario – Darryll Holland – 30-1

6 – Halo Again – Steve Asmussen – Winchell Thoroughbreds & Willis Horton Racing – Luis Contreras – 5-1

7 – Glorious Tribute – Barbara Minshall – Bruce Lunsford – David Moran – 30-1

8 – Olliemyboy – Sid Attard – JMJ Racing Stables – Steven Bahen – 30-1

9 – Dotted Line – Sid Attard – Norseman Racing Stable – Justin Stein – 8-1

10 – Curlin's Voyage – Josie Carroll – Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings & Windsor Boys Racing – Patrick Husbands – 5-2

11 – F F Rocket – Albert Stall Jr. – Frank Fletcher Racing Operations – Sahin Civaci – 50-1

12 – Clayton – Kevin Attard – Donato Lanni & Daniel Plouffe – Rafael Hernandez – 2-1

13 – Mighty Heart – Josie Carroll – Lawrence Cordes – Daisuke Fukumoto – 20-1

14 – Tecumseh's War – Catherine Day Phillips – Ilium Stables – Emma-Jayne Wilson – 12-1

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