8/20/23

  5  WO   The Kings Plate       

$1,000.000   3yo Foaled in Canada    1 1/4m Dirt    123lbs

When the request came in, I wrote up a preview, then realized it was covered… so here was my opinion, anyway.  : )

The Kings Plate seems to be a wide-open affair and I will not be surprised by any outcome, but I will go out on a bit of a limb and take the only filly, Appreciate, as my top pick.  She looked dominating over this surface, running off to win by four in the WO Oaks, and another like that and she should be getting her picture taken, again.  Let’s go next door and take the Trial winner, Poolside Brave as the second choice.  He won that prep for this, closing well to get up by a neck, and that was a vast improvement over his recent efforts.  He may be coming around just when the purses are in his favor, and that is a nice place to be. 

Here’s The Field –

Was on the TC Trail for the Big Barn but it just didn’t pan out for this one, and it’s been a struggle since.  One win this season, taking the Lecomte (GIII) at FG back in Jan.  He’s going to step his game up if he’s going to take this one. 

Won the prep for this race, securing only his second win of an eight-race career, but that win certainly has to be a feather in his cap.  He was coming off of a pair of sub-par grass races, and the main track seems to be his preferred going.  Can he do it again?

Only filly to take on the boys but she lit it up here, winning her third consecutive in the WO Oaks, with a nice, thick purse.  She drew off to score by four… another like that, and she may be laughing at the gents and adding to her bankroll. 

Was fifth in the prep for this and broke his three-race win streak in the process.  Those were lesser races, including a $20.000 claimer, so he’s going to need to pack his lunch and bring his best. 
 

Just missed in the prep race, a neck back and he’s won over this track taking down Alw types prior to that.  He’s a horse that could be on the improve and may be rounding into form at just the right time to flip the script. 

Makes his first start since the TC Races where he really didn’t do a lot, although a sixth in the PRK (GI) is a fair run.  Only one win this year, taking the Risen Star (GII) at FG, so he’s going to be looking for some of that form to return. 

Another that was on the TC Trail, running second in the BEL (GI) but was last of thirteen in the Haskel (GI) in a dud of a race.  He will do that; he was last in the KYD (GI) as well… so I guess you just have to see who shows up for this one. 

He’s been more of an Alw type, and doesn’t have a win this year, but I don’t question the Big Barn as they win more stakes than most win any races.  Still, he needs to step his game up big time if he wants to get his picture taken today.

he won the Sun Derby (GIII) and ran in the first two legs of the TC where he really didn’t get a lot accomplished, then was third over this surface vs. Alw horses, so I’m really not sure what to think of him right now.  His best would be tough, but does he still have it?

Mixed results vs stakes company, and his one seasonal win was vs Alw types, but he just missed in the Affirmed (GIII) at SA last out, and that was a nice group of horses.  I like him for a minor share. 

Scratched

The good news is his only ’23 win came over this track, but it was vs. OptAlw types, so this is a big step up.  He closed to be second vs. OptAlw here last out, so the distance may be to his liking. 

COZMAN    3 / 2                   Willie’s Green Card      5 / 2 / 3    

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded