Plate Trial Stakes Winner: Paramount Prince Trainer: Mark Casse Jockey: Patrick Husbands Owner: Gary Barber, Michael Langois Beyer Speed Figure: 81 Paramount Prince put in a brilliant performance winning in gate-to-wire fashion at generous odds of 11-1 in the 1 1/8-mile Plate Trial. The distance was the main question for him as it was his first start beyond seven furlongs, and he was looking for his first win since crushing a field by nine lengths in his debut last November at six furlongs. He answered all the questions after taking the lead and not looking back while only facing mild pace pressure at the start. He was given a confident ride by Patrick Husbands and earned his spot in the gate for the King’s Plate. Cool Kiss relished the added distance and put forth a strong effort after an interesting trip in the Queenston. He found himself toward the back of the pack after the break, then proceeded to have a very wide trip the whole way around. He swung seven wide in the lane and fought on to hold the place position, outrunning his 18-1 odds in a big way. Twin City rebounded after a very dull effort in the Grade 3 Marine, which was his first time finishing out of the exacta. He broke well and found himself in his usual midpack spot, ran a little greenly in the stretch weaving around horses to try for a clear run, and closed well after finding room, just missing second by a head. Velocitor had a much improved effort after finishing last in the Marine. The addition of blinkers and Lasix for this event helped him move forward. He found the rail position early while flanking the pacesetters, stayed there the whole way saving ground, but was outfinished for a top-three spot. Philip My Dear was sent off as the second choice in the wagering, found himself toward the back of the pack after rounding the first turn, settled nicely through the backside of the race, made a move around the turn, but couldn’t sustain his run. Stanley House disappointed as the heavy favorite with an eventful trip that he should get a pass for. He found himself uncharacteristically last after the first turn, made a wide move trying to find position going into the second turn to no avail, was wide into the lane, but came running when straightened out. He deserves a look in the King’s Plate. Tiburon secured his rail position after the break sitting with the midpack grouping. He was urged heading into the second turn as he was losing position and re-rallied in the lane to close some ground. Guns n’ Rojas was in no rush after the break and content to sit at the back of the pack securing his rail position. He had too much work to do on the turn for home but did finish with energy. Forest Buzz tracked and tried to push the pace on the front, could not sustain his trip with the eventual winner, and faded to finish toward the back of the pack. Gran Spirited took up his usual spot a few lengths off the pacesetter, but once the running started he just had no punch like the pattern in his previous races so far this year. Simcoe broke from the far outside post, found himself three wide with the first flight of horses into the first turn, sat midpack, and then flattened when turning for home. Pat’s Gamble was at the back of the pack after the first turn and never made a move or threatened at any point of the race. :: 2023 King's Plate: Get odds, comments, analysis, and news for the 164th running of the King's Plate at Woodbine Woodbine Oaks Winner: Elysian Field Trainer: Mark Casse Jockey: Sahin Civaci Owner: Team Valor and Gary Barber Beyer Speed Figure: 83 Elysian Field stamped herself as a King’s Plate contender after a brilliant race in the Woodbine Oaks. It was a huge step forward after her effort in the Fury Stakes. She was able to turn the tables on the favorite this time out going the added distance, which was a legitimate question as her only other route attempt was unsuccessful, explaining why she was the third choice in the wagering at 5-1. She secured a perfect stalking trip on the rail, saving ground behind the dueling front-runners. She steadied on the turn looking for room as her path closed, and once finding a clear run showed her nice turn of foot, easily collaring the favorite and drawing off to a decisive 2 1/4-length win. Wickenheiser impressed in her second start off the layoff. She angled toward the rail after breaking from the outside post while looking to save ground traveling at the back of the pack. She weaved her way through down the lane and closed well, but wasn’t going to catch the winner who had the jump. She was gritty to hold second and could peak at the perfect time in the King’s Plate. Fortyfiveseventy outran her 50-1 odds with a forwardly placed effort. She took her position going into the first turn behind the pacesetters and bided her time. She encountered traffic in the lane, so she switched paths and fought on bravely to narrowly miss second by three-quarters of a length. Me and My Shadow added blinkers for this event while breaking from the far outside post. She found herself four wide into the first turn, made her move turning for home with good position, and flattened out. Ticker Tape Home was sent off as the lukewarm 2-1 favorite. She secured a nice stalking spot from her outside post off the dueling pacesetter and raced in the two path down the backstretch. She started her move around the second turn and took the lead heading into the lane, but couldn’t keep on and retreated to finish fifth. She will be cutting back in distance and switching to turf going forward. Big Brass Bed broke in midpack and settled on the rail into the first turn. She was asked to make up ground on the backstretch, shifting out into the three path, never made up ground, and ran even. Flysofreeashleeb found herself at the back of the group after the break, made up ground down the backside, tried to weave her way through around the turn, and was shifting in and out down the lane while not making up ground. Courtly Ro established herself at the back after the first turn, never really threatening the front group while passing the tiring front-runners down the stretch. Fashionably Fab took her usual spot on the lead and found herself in a duel shortly thereafter in which she disposed of her rival, but had no energy left when challenged by others. Tito’s Calling was in position for a nice stalking trip going into the first turn, settled nicely down the backstretch behind the honest pace, was asked to run into the lane, and came up empty. Collect Datt was wide after breaking from the outside trying to find position into the first turn, lost ground down the backstretch, and finished with the group at the back. Delphia found a nice spot going into the first turn just behind the leaders, was checked when making her move four wide around the second turn causing her to lose ground, and never recovered after that. Great Kate settled at the back of the pack after the break and never moved from there. She wasn’t a threat at any point in the race. Friends for Life broke with the top flight and secured her spot on the rail going into the first turn, engaged in a speed duel, and faded badly to finish last. :: Bet the races with a $250 First Deposit Match + $10 Free Bet and FREE Formulator PPs! Join DRF Bets. July 23 allowance Midnight in Malibu outran his odds as the longest shot on the board at 32-1, was bumped at the break and floated four wide around the turn and down the backstretch, and made his move on the far turn ahead of the rest of the pack, which proved to be the winning decision. He held on by a neck in the 1 1/16-mile entry-level allowance. Stayhonor Goodside traveled toward the back of the pack, was stuck behind horses on the turn before going six wide into the lane, and rallied hard after the winner only to fall short. Moon Landing improved with blinkers and was sent off as the even-money favorite. He also was content to sit at the rear of the group and was slow getting into gear in the lane while running out of ground and missing second by a nose. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.