Time for ‘take two’ of the 2024 King’s Plate after the featured event along with four other stakes races were cancelled last Saturday due to heavy rains in the Greater Toronto Area.
The good news for horseplayers though is those stakes were re-carded as part of an extremely fun 12-race slate at Woodbine on Friday afternoon. And of course, Xpressbet and 1/ST BET have brought back the 2M Rewards Point Hit Split Pick 5 promotion from last weekend. You just need to remember to register once again for the promo.
The $150k guaranteed sequence will be conducted over the final five races of the card, which not only includes the King’s Plate, but also the Bold Venture (G3) and Catch a Glimpse. Here are my thoughts:
Grade Descriptions: Grade A=Highest degree of confidence; Grade B=Solid Play. Grade C=Least preferred or pass; Grade X=probable winner but likely at odds too short to play.
Race 8: Bold Venture (G3)
Grade: B+
Main Ticket: 6 Playmea Tune
Backups: None
Forecast: No doubt this year’s Bold Venture goes through #3 Patches O’Houlihan. Last year’s champion of the 6.5-furlong event over the all-weather has won 8 of 10 overall, including his first start of 2024 last out in the Pink Lloyd S.by six lengths. The son of Reload has the speed to control the early pace under jockey Sofia Vives and will be very tough to deny if able to set a moderate early tempo.
The defending champ is hard to knock, but I do prefer #6 Playmea Tune. The 4YO gelding has been awesome through two starts rattling off a pair of 95+ Beyers for trainer Josie Carroll. He draws outside Patches O’Houlihan and appears to have unlimited upside heading into his third try. I will lean on the son of Maclean’s Music to kick off the sequence.
Race 9: King’s Plate S.
Grade: C+
Main Ticket: 1 Jokestar; 2 Rafaroo
Backups: 7 My Boy Prince; 3 Essex Serpent
Forecast: The morning line in this year’s King’s Plate suggests it could be a two-horse race between a pair of Mark Casse trained runners in #3 Essex Serpent and the more experienced #7 My Boy Prince.
My Boy Prince comes into the biggest race of his career in search of his fourth straight win. Last out in the Plate Trial, the Cairo Prince colt overcame a terrible start to beat six rivals at odds of 1-5. He clearly has an affinity for the surface having won 5 of 6 over the Woodbine all-weather and has proven he can handle adversity. That said, one can certainly make the case we have seen the best he has to offer already.
Essex Serpent has a much different profile. The Honor Code gelding has only competed three times in the afternoon and just once at a route of ground. The lone two-turn start came in late June in the Marine (G3) when he stalked early and held sway late under jockey Patrick Husbands. Much like, My Boy Prince, Essex Serpent has done little wrong thus far, but his likely off odds will be too short to get excited about.
For those like myself hoping to separate in this year’s King’s Plate, the best hope is probably a fast early pace leading to some chaos in the lane as the speeds struggle to get the last couple of furlongs. Hopefully, that is #1 Jokestar who makes the fourth start of his 3YO campaign for trainer Kevin Attard. The son of Practical Joke is winless thus far in 2024 but has hit the board in 4 of 7 over the Woodbine all-weather and appears to be an improving gelding with the right running style. Emma-Jayne Wilson should be saving ground early throughout. I will also include #2 Rafaroo who has yet to cross the wire first through two starts but did finish second last out to My Boy Prince in the Plate Trial. The Stronach Stables colt has obvious upside.
Race 10: Catch A Glimpse S.
Grade: C+
Main Ticket: 7 Bullet
Backups: 2 Will Reign
Forecast: This sprint for 2YO fillies over the Woodbine turf named for the star Mark Casse conditioned filly from the mid 2010’s, looks like Casse’s race to lose again in 2024. He sends out three, including the favorite #7 Bullet. The $425k Keeneland September 2023 purchase kicked off her career with a win against stakes foes in the Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies over the Gulfstream Park lawn and backed it up with a victory here in Toronto in the My Dear S. She draws favorably in the 7-hole and will beat this group if she can avoid regression in her third lifetime start.
The price options in this spot look up against it but perhaps Bullet’s stablemate #2 Will Reign can spring the minor upset. The War of Will filly enters the $150k event a maiden after being out finished by stablemate Abientot in her debut at Saratoga last month. She comes in off a bullet 3-furlong drill in 35.3 over the all-weather and is likely to benefit if the pace is hot early.
Race 11:
Grade: B
Main Ticket: 9 Classic Mo Town
Backups: 5 Ron’s Gizmo; 6 Cool Kiss
Forecast: The pace should be contentious in this second-level allowance event over the Inner Turf given the presence of #1 Never Surprised, #7 Makawa, #8 Mr. Who, and #11 Lord of War. This bodes well for #9 Classic Mo Town. The Marty Drexler trainee has been freshened up after running down lesser back on July 7. The son of Mo Town heads into his eighth start of 2024 in the best form of his career and should get a perfect mid-pack trip under Pietro Moran.
#5 Ron’s Gizmo also should benefit from the likely raceshape. The 7YO son of Giant Gizmo cuts back half a furlong after missing by a half-length against similar on Aug 4. He should be rolling late under Rafael Hernandez. #6 Cool Kiss is just 2 for 15 and is probably a better bet to hit the board than cross the wire first, but he too should benefit from a brisk first-half mile.
Race 12:
Grade: C+
Main Ticket: 2 Scored; 1 Zeena Swift; 6 Spectacular Force; 7 Ryo Amazing
Backups: None
Forecast: The King’s Plate card concludes with a maiden optional claimer at 7-furlongs where I will use several include #2 Scored. The Exaggerator filly makes her second start off a 6.5-month break and should have the tactical speed to find a comfortable pocket trip. #1 Zeena Swift also intrigues in her first start since the Fourth of July. With a clean break, jockey Justin Stein should have an opportunity to control the early tempo from his inside draw. #6 Spectacular Force is also worth including for Tec Racing after putting a nice late run on July 20 for Marty Drexler, as well as #7 Ryo Amazing who makes her first start since entering the Pat Parente barn.Hopefully, #3 Liam’s Awesome gets over bet off of consecutive off the pace runner-up efforts in Toronto.
Good luck in the Pick 5 on Friday afternoon!
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