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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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Weekend Lineup: Queen’s Plate, Kentucky Downs

Last week's 146th Kentucky Derby marked the second leg of the 2020 American Triple Crown and this weekend sees the Canadian Triple Crown get underway with the 161st Queen's Plate at Woodbine. The spotlight doesn't solely rest north of the border as the boutique Kentucky Downs meet hosts its marquee day of stakes on September 12. Each stakes on the Kentucky Downs program on Saturday is worth at least $500,000, with the four Grade 3 stakes highlighted by the $1 million Calumet Farm Kentucky Turf Cup at 1 1/2 miles.

TVG is the go-to network for live broadcasts of both Woodbine and Kentucky Downs racing, providing comprehensive coverage along with live racing from other tracks.

Fans of international racing can also tune in to TVG on Saturday and Sunday to morning to catch five Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” races. On Saturday, Leopardstown will host three – the Irish Champion Stakes (Breeders' Cup Turf) , the Coolmore America “Justify” Matron Stakes (Filly & Mare Turf) and the KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes (Juvenile Turf). The action will switch to the Curragh on Sunday for the Moyglare Stud Stakes (Juvenile Fillies Turf) and the Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes (Turf Sprint).

Saturday September 12

4:27 p.m.—$500,000 Grade 3 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf Stakes at Kentucky Downs on TVG

Trainer Chad Brown, the future Hall of Famer who is a presence at this meet for the first time, has 9-5 favorite Regal Glory in the Ladies Turf Stakes for fillies and mares. Regal Glory is a multiple graded-stakes winner, taking last year's Grade 2 Lake Placid and Grade 3 Lake George at Saratoga, along with two other stakes at age 3. In two starts this year she was second to her talented stablemate Newspaperofrecord in Belmont's Grade 3 Intercontinental and fourth to her in the Grade 1 Just a Game. Brown also entered 5-1 Tapit Today, who finished most recently was a good fourth in Monmouth Park's Grade 3 Matchmaker.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KD091220USA7-EQB.html

4:51 p.m.—$250,000 Grade 2 Canadian Stakes at Woodbine on TVG

Art of Almost and Elizabeth Way, both trained by Roger Attfield, will take on eight rivals, including multiple Grade 1 winner Cambier Parc, in Saturday's $250,000 Canadian Stakes. Cambier Parc, who last raced nearly a year ago, has won three of her past four starts – including back-to-back Grade 1 triumphs – for OXO Equine and trainer Chad Brown. The four-year-old daughter of Medaglia d'Oro took the Del Mar Oaks last August and followed it up with a victory in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup in October.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/WO091220CAN9-EQB.html

4:59 p.m.—$500,000 Grade 3 Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint Stakes at Kentucky Downs on TVG

The Ladies Sprint provides a scintillating showdown among Grade 1 winner Got Stormy, the 2-1 favorite in the overflow field of 15, and Kimari. The Mark Casse-trained Got Stormy has consistently been tough competing against males in Grade 1 races, including winning last year's Fourstardave at Saratoga and finishing second in her title defense this year, along with a second in last year's Breeders' Cup Mile. Now she'll sprint for the first time in her glorious career that has seen her earn $1.6 million to date. Kimari, trained by Wesley Ward, has only been beaten once in the United States, and that was when fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Santa Anita.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KD091220USA8-EQB.html

5:32 p.m.—$500,000 Kentucky Downs Juvenile Turf Sprint Stakes at Kentucky Downs on TVG

Trainer Wesley Ward has the two morning-line favorites in the Juvenile Turf Sprint in debut winner Outadore (2-1) and Fauci (5-2), who won a Keeneland maiden race on turf and was second in Saratoga's Skidmore on grass. Another interesting horse is 9-2 third choice County Final, who won his debut on grass at Churchill Downs then was second in the Grade 3 Bashford Manor on dirt. Transferred to Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, County Final romped in Monmouth Park's off-the-turf Tyro Stakes.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KD091220USA9-EQB.html

5:41 p.m.—$1,000,000 Queen's Plate at Woodbine on TVG

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. 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. 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.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/WO091220CAN10-EQB.html

6:04 p.m.—$1,000,000 Grade 3 Calumet Farm Kentucky Cup Turf Stakes at Kentucky Downs on TVG

The Kentucky Turf Cup is headed by Michael Hui's 2019 winner Zulu Alpha and Donegal Racing's 2018 winner Arklow. Both became Grade 1 winners after their 1-2 finish a year ago at Kentucky Downs, with Arklow winning Belmont Park's Joe Hirsch Turf Classic in his next start and Zulu Alpha taking Gulfstream Park's $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf in January. Zulu Alpha, fourth in last year's Breeders' Cup Turf, has made a claim as being America's best distance turf horse after winning the Pegasus World Cup Turf and tacking on Grade 2 victories in Gulfstream Park's Mac Diarmida and Keeneland's Elkhorn. Arklow is trying to regain his 2019 form, and trainer Brad Cox has been pleased how the 6-year-old horse has responded in training to the addition of blinkers.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KD091220USA10-EQB.html

6:36 p.m.—$700,000 Grade 3 Runhappy Turf Sprint Stakes at Kentucky Downs on TVG

Totally Boss, winner of this race in 2019, looms the favorite in an overflow field for the Turf Sprint Stakes, whose winner will receive a fees-paid spot in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint as part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series' “Win and You're In” program. Totally Boss has raced only twice this year, most recently rallying strongly only to lose Keeneland's Grade 2 Shakertown by a head to his Rusty Arnold-trained stablemate Leinster. Totally Boss could join Hold the Salt (2008-2009) as the only repeat winner of the stakes.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KD091220USA11-EQB.html

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Cambier Parc Poised for Canadian Return

The last time OXO Equine’s Cambier Parc (Medaglia d’Oro) faced the starter was in Keeneland’s GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S. last October and the blue-blooded filly looks to mark her return in Saturday’s GII Canadian S. at Woodbine. A front-running winner in the nine-furlong test for 3-year-old fillies, the Chad Brown trainee employed completely opposite tactics when closing from off the pace to score in the GI Del Mar Oaks in August. Earlier last season, she won the GIII Herecomesthebride S. at Gulfstream and the GIII Wonder Again S. at Belmont before finishing third in the GI Belmont Oaks in July. Rafael Hernandez accompanies the 4-year-old for the first time Saturday.

Terra Racing’s Amalfi Coast (Tapizar) hit the board in seven of eight starts during her sophomore campaign, including season closing wins in the grassy Ontario Damsel S. and Carotene S. against Ontario-bred fillies prior to a seven-panel main track score in the Nov. 24 GII Bessarabian S. This term, the homebred finished third in her latest start in the seven-furlong GIII Seaway S. on the Woodbine Tapeta Aug. 16.

Hall of Fame trainer Roger Attfield is already responsible for a trio of Canadian wins and will attempt to secure his fourth Saturday with the duo of Elizabeth Way (Ire) (Frankel {Ire}) and Art of Almost (Dansili {GB}). The former accounted for a pair of wins at Gulfstream, including the GIII The Very One S. in February and subsequently added a score in Woodbine’s GII Nassau S. June 27. Most recently, she finished third in the 10-furlong GII Dance Smartly S. Aug. 15.

“It wasn’t her race at all,” said Attfield, of her most recent performance. “She didn’t really go into it as nicely as she had in all her other races. She didn’t really run her race. She was running off the bridle with her head up. But at least she was third, anyway. She’s coming into this one much better than she was the last one, for sure.”

One position behind her stablemate in the Dance Smartly, Art of Almost finished second in a Churchill Downs optional claimer earlier this spring before adding a win going 8 1/2 furlongs over the E.P. Taylor turf in June. She was fourth in the July 18 GIII Trillium S. prior to her Dance Smartly run.

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