Wonder Gadot, who had done everything but win in her first six starts this season, appeared to benefit greatly from the addition of blinkers as she rolled to a 4-3/4 length victory in Saturday’s (June 30) 159th edition of the Queen’s Plate at Woodbine Racetrack.
The Queen’s Plate, a 1-1/4 mile race for Canadian-bred three-year-olds, had attracted a field of 16, the largest since 2011. Wonder Gadot, one of two fillies in the race along with her recent Woodbine Oaks, presented by Budweiser, conqueror Dixie Moon, went postward as the favorite under John Velazquez.
Trainer Mark Casse said Wonder Gadot could continue on the OLG Canadian Triple Crown trail with the next stop the $400,000 Prince of Wales, to be contested over 1-3/16 miles on the Fort Erie main track.
“If all goes well, the Prince of Wales could set her up well for the Alabama,” said Casse, with reference to Saratoga’s Grade 1, 1-1/4 mile classic on Aug. 18. “She loves the distance. I think if she’ll stay happy and healthy she’s going to be tough. She’ll give anybody in North America a run for their money in the Alabama. She just goes and goes. She’s Wonder Woman.”
But first, Casse can be allowed to exult in Wonder Gadot’s Queen’s Plate victory, the second for the trainer and owner Gary Barber in the race after they took the 2014 renewal with the filly Lexie Lou.
“She was awesome,” said jockey John Velazquez, who won the Queen’s Plate for the first time. “Finally, we got her to pay attention and pass horses. She was great.”
Telekinesis, the second choice at 3.75-1, didn’t waste much time in moving to the lead under Patrick Husbands and was in front by a half-length through a quarter mile in :23.12 and the half in :46.82.
Neepawa and Rose’s Vision were in hot pursuit and the latter had assumed a half-length advantage as the three-quarters went by in 1:11.85. Telekinesis was not done yet, however, as he battled back to regain the leady by a half-length as the mile went by in 1:36.20.
But by this point Wonder Gadot had moved into serious contention on the outside, Cooler Mike was battling toward the inside, and Aheadbyacentury had come from well back to loom a serious threat.
Telekinesis finally gave up the lead and would falter to fifth as his stablemate Wonder Gadot had cruised into an insurmountable lead.fake rolex
Wonder Gadot, bred in Ontario by Anderson Farms Ontario Inc., became the ninth filly to win the Queen’s Plate since its first running at Woodbine in 1956. She was following directly in the footsteps of Holy Helena, who won last year’s edition.tag heuer replica