The Kings Plate ($1,000.00 Purse)
WO- For Three Year Olds Foaled In Canada
One Mile and One Quarter on the Dirt
August 15, 2026

Open Invitation was the only horse in the field for The Kings Plate that ran in any of the TC races, taking part in both the PRK and the BEL though did not earn anything in those races. This still made him an appealing choice, and he would be the post-time favorite, at odds of 5/2. He would be our second choice, as I did like Monarchy having that five pound weight allowance, but Open Invitation simply would not be denied, as he picked up the two length win. The winning trainer is Mb Stables, who adds his second Kings/Queens Plate to his collection. His previous win came in 2019 with Questionable. A Fresu is the winning rider, his first. Congratulations to them! The race was won in a time of 2:00.93, the third quickest in the race’s history. Let’s take a look at it!

(½ Mile- :47.96)- Down the frontstretch the first time, Flop and Senter, respectively trained by Mb Stables and Glorify Stables will battle it out for the early lead. When they reach the opening turn, there’s very little separating them, with the slightest of advantage going to Flop. London is a length behind them Mo Mentum Farm and will look to take the third lane. They’ll hit a half mile still with Flop and Senter matching one another’s stride. London remains third after taking his three wide trip around the opening turn for no apparent reason. Justified will sit fourth, just a couple lengths off the lead for Alydar Stables, and to his outside is our eventual winner, the Mb Stables- trained Open Invitation. It’s a length to Mo Mentum Farm’s Monarchy and two more to her stablemate, Mayor Of Win City.

(3/4 Mile- 1:12.24)- Senter moves into the top spot down the backstretch, and leads at this point by half a length. On the outside, London eventually starts to make his push begins to pull up alongside Flop. Behind them, both Justified and Open Invitation are closing in on the front runners as well, but Justified will have more traffic issues, allowing Open Invitation to slide into fourth as he now runs four wide. Monarchy does not advance her position in the same manner, and still trailing way out of it is Mayor Of Win City.

(Top of Stretch, 1.6F To Go)- Five horses are within a length of each other at the top of the final turn, but it’s Open Invitation making his intentions known, already moving into the third spot and setting his sights on Senter and London. At the top of the stretch, they are three wide for the lead, but the outside run of Open Invitation has been a good one, as he pokes a nose in front and looks to take it home in the stretch. London and Senter are going to try and hang in there, and are for now. Justified is a length behind them, and we’ll have to see if he has push coming. Flop is flopping, and Monarchy is surprisingly lacking any kind of response. Mayor Of Win City is simply running his own race at the back.

(Finish- 2:00.93)- With a furlong to go, Open Invitation has left them behind, pulling a length in front of both London and Senter, and there is no run coming from Justified or anyone else for that matter. All that was left was to watch Open Invitation draw away to be able to crown himself the Kings Plate champion. The margin of victory will be two lengths, where London edges out Senter in a photo for place, with fourth place spoils going to Justified. It’s two more to a very disappointing Monarchy, who really let me down here. Mayor Of Win City was able to pass the highly fatigued Flop.

About The Winner- Open Invitation, trained by Mb Stables and ridden to victory by A Fresu, is a three year old gelding by Inviting and is out of Con Minou. He was bred by Mb Stables as a yearling in Ontario, and they have been together throughout. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his third in 17 starts, and second stake win. His career earnings are now $1,509.44.

— NS

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded