Plate Trial Stakes Explained

Class:Restricted stakes
Horse Race:Plate Trial Stakes
Location:Woodbine Racetrack
Toronto, Ontario Canada
Inaugurated:1944
Race Type:Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Distance: miles (9 furlongs)
Surface:Polytrack
Track:left-handed
Qualification:Three-year-olds foaled in Canada
Weight:Scale Weight
Purse:$150,000 (2021)

The Plate Trial Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred flat horserace for three-Year-Olds, foaled in Canada run annually at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. Raced in early June, the -mile race on dirt is considered one of the most important prep races for Canada's premier horse race, the Queen's Plate.[1]

Inaugurated in 1944 at the Old Woodbine Race Course as a six furlong sprint race, it was moved to the new Woodbine Racetrack in 1957 following that track's closure. In the first forty-eight years, a total of twenty-two winners of the Plate Trial Stakes went on to win the Queen's Plate. However, in the last sixteen years, no horse has accomplished the feat. Most recently, 2012 Plate Trial winner, River Rush, finished a disappointing 6th in the 2012 running of the Plate.

Hall of Fame jockey Avelino Gomez won this race a record nine times including four in a row from 1964 through 1967.[1]

In 1955, Ace Marine won two versions of the race, one at six furlongs and another at a mile and 70 yards.

Since inception, the Plate Trial has been contested at various distances. In 1955, it was run as two races at the Old Woodbine Race Course. The first race consisted of four divisions and contested at 6 furlongs and the second race was made up of three divisions at 1 mile and 70 yards. In other years the distance was:

Records

Time record: (a current distance of miles)

Most wins by an owner:

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Winners of the Plate Trial Stakes since 1987

YearWinnerJockeyTrainerOwnerTime
2023Paramount PrincePatrick HusbandsMark CasseMichael J. Langlois & Gary Barber1:49.99
2022Sir For SureDeclan CarrollMark CasseHeste Sport Inc.1:50.62
2021AvomanAntonio GallardoDonald MacRaeD-Mac Racing Stable & La Huerta1:52.84
2020ClaytonRafael M. HernandezKevin AttardDonato Lanni & Daniel Plouffe1:50.61
2019Pay For PeaceLuis ContrerasRachel HoldenTeam Penney Racing & Carem Stable1:51.63
2018TelekinesisPatrick HusbandsMark CasseStonestreet Stables1:50.40
2017Guy CaballeroRafael M. HernandezCatherine Day PhillipsSean & Dorothy Fitzhenry1:51.32
2016Amis GismoLuis ContrerasJosie CarrollIvan Dalos1:52.12
2015Danish DynaformerLuis ContrerasRoger L. AttfieldCharles E. Fipke1:49.81
2014We Miss ArtieJavier CastellanoTodd PletcherKenneth and Sarah Ramsey1:50.78
2013Dynamic SkyJoel RosarioMark CasseJohn Oxley1:50.59
2012River RushJim McAleneyStronach StablesReade Baker1:48.97
2011Check Your SoulPatrick HusbandsRoger AttfieldCharles E. Fipke1:51.16
2010Big Red MikeEurico Rosa da SilvaNicholas GonzalezTerra Racing Stable1:50.41
2009Eye of the LeopardEurico Rosa Da SilvaMark FrostadSam-Son Farm1:51.80
2008Not BourbonJono JonesRoger AttfieldCharles E. Fipke1:49.73
2007Jiggs CozDavid ClarkSid C. AttardMel P. Lawson1:50.77
2006Pipers ThunderRay SabourinEric CoatrieuxChiefswood Stable 1:51.65
2005Three In The Bag *Robert LandryStanley M. HoughCastletop Stable1:52.52
2004A Bit O'GoldJono JonesThe Two Bit Racing Stable1:51.74
2003MobilTodd KabelMike KeoghGus Schickedanz1:51.84
2002Shaws CreekJake BartonJohn A. RossBud Reynolds1:52.38
2001 Win CityConstant MontpellierRobert P. TillerFrank DiGiulio Jr.1:52.08
2000Pete's SakePatrick HusbandsTodd A. PletcherGerald Frankel1:53.05
1999Catahoula ParishRobert LandryJohn A. RossJam Jar Racing1:51.18
1998Brite AdamJames McKnightRita SchnitzlerR.M.C. Stable1:50.60
1997CryptocloserWillie MartinezMark FrostadEarle I. Mack & William A. Sorokolit Sr.1:51.00
1996NorthfaceTodd KabelDaniel J. VellaFrank Stronach1:50.00
1995All Firmed UpTodd KabelDaniel J. VellaFrank Stronach1:50.60
1994Bruce's MillDave PennaMark FrostadEarle I. Mack et al.1:50.60
1993CirculatingRichard Dos RamosRoderick W. WrightSherwood/Sheehan Farms1:52.40
1992AlydeedCraig PerretRoger AttfieldKinghaven Farms1:50.00
1991Megas Vukefalos *Mickey WallsJerry C. MeyerKnob Hill Stable1:51.00
Bolulight *Don SeymourRoger AttfieldKinghaven Farms
1990IzvestiaDon SeymourRoger AttfieldKinghaven Farms1:50.40
1989With ApprovalDon SeymourRoger AttfieldKinghaven Farms1:50.80
1988Regal ClassicSandy HawleyJames E. DaySam-Son / Windfields1:51.60
1987AfleetGary StahlbaumPhil EnglandRichard R. Kennedy1:50.20

Earlier notable winners

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://woodbine.com/wp-content/uploads/MediaGuide-ThoroughbredStakesResults-2018-Revised.pdf 2018 Woodbine Media Guide