Latest news with #KingsPlate
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Woodbine To Renovate E.P. Taylor Turf Course After King's Plate
Woodbine To Renovate E.P. Taylor Turf Course After King's Plate originally appeared on Paulick Report. As part of its ongoing commitment to delivering premier Thoroughbred racing, Woodbine Entertainment will begin a major renovation project on the iconic E.P. Taylor Turf Course following King's Plate Weekend. The project will restore a five-furlong section of the backstretch and install a modern drainage system and new Kentucky Bluegrass, delivering long-term improvements to one of North America's most renowned turf racing construction, Woodbine's second world-class turf course - the bet365 Inner Turf Course, which opened in 2019 - will serve as the primary turf racing surface until the project's targeted completion on Sept. 1, 2026. 'The E.P. Taylor Turf Course has played host to some of the most memorable moments in Canadian racing, and this renovation ensures it remains one of the finest turf courses in the world,' said Michael Copeland, CEO, Woodbine Entertainment. 'This project is about more than infrastructure—it reflects our long-term commitment to delivering a world-class racing experience for our horses and riders, horseplayers and fans, and the entire racing community.'The 1½-mile E.P. Taylor Turf Course opened in 1994 and quickly earned a reputation as one of the top turf courses in the sport. Its backstretch was originally part of the former Marshall Turf Course, which operated from 1956 to 1993. The E.P. Taylor course is home to many of Woodbine's most prestigious races, including four Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In' events – the Grade 1 Rogers Woodbine Mile, Grade 1 bet365 Summer Stakes, Grade 1 Johnnie Walker Natalma Stakes, and Grade 1 E.P. Taylor Stakes – as well as the Grade 1 Canadian support the project timeline, post times at Woodbine Racetrack will be adjusted beginning the week of August 18, 2025: Thursday post time will move from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday post time will shift from 1:05 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday post time remain unchanged The fall turf stakes races traditionally run on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course will be contested on the bet365 Inner Turf, including the Woodbine Mile, Summer Stakes, and Natalma Stakes, scheduled for Saturday, September 13. The Breeders' Stakes (Sunday, September 28) and Canadian International (Saturday, October 4) will also be run on the Inner Turf. This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Aug 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
National Post
4 days ago
- Sport
- National Post
Trainer Mark Casse following King's Plate contenders from distance
Mark Casse is once again at the centre of attention at a King's Plate. This time, though, he won't be in attendance. Article content The dual hall-of-fame trainer, who recently surpassed 4,000 training wins for his career, will be trusting his Woodbine staff to saddle No Time and Ashley's Archer in the $1-million Plate, looking for his fourth win in the race. Article content Article content No Time is the 7-2 morning-line favourite for the Plate off his win in the Woodbine Oaks on July 20. The only filly in the race, No Time stalked a quick pace in the Oaks and had more than enough to quicken smartly in the stretch. Article content 'Early, she was just off the pace, and then for her to finish the way she did,' Casse said. '(Jockey John Velazquez) said when he asked her to pick it up, she took off with him.' Article content A well-bred daughter of Not This Time, No Time comes into the Plate with two wins in eight starts. 'She's one of the best sires in the world,' Casse said. 'She has the pedigree to be any kind.' Article content Ashley's Archer has one win in seven starts. She finished first in last fall's Cup and Saucer, but was disqualified back to fifth for interference. She most recently was narrowly beaten in an optional claiming event on July 13. Article content 'I think his race was very good,' Casse said. 'He needed it and he should be a better horse for the King's Plate.' Article content Velazquez, who rode Wonder Gadot to a Plate win for Casse in 2018, once again pilots No Time. Sahin Civaci, a regular rider for Casse at Woodbine, will be aboard Ashley's Archer. Article content Article content If one of Casse's starters does win the Plate, he will have no time to celebrate. He sends out two of the top 3-year-old fillies in the Alabama just minutes later. Article content Article content La Cara has won two graded stakes this year and Nitrogen, who has three stakes triumphs — most recently a romp in the Saratoga mud. Kentucky Oaks winner Good Cheer will be their main rival in upstate New York. Article content OTHER FEATURES Article content Casse will be using Saratoga's monitors to watch other Woodbine stakes as well. He'll send out 2-1 favourite Sweet Fusion, a winner in her only start, in the $150,000 Catch A Glimpse Stakes. His four-year-old Victory Achieved will battle favorites Playmea Tune and Simcoe in the $150,000 Bold Venture Stakes. Six-year-old War Strategy will take on top choices Cruden Bay and Dresden Row in the $200,000 King Edward Stakes. And Casse will hope Casson can make it a hat trick of wins in the $150,000 Soaring Free Stakes, where he is the 2-1 morning-line choice.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Weekend Lineup: King's Plate Day, Featuring The E.P. Taylor Stakes
Weekend Lineup: King's Plate Day, Featuring The E.P. Taylor Stakes originally appeared on Paulick Report. The Canadian Triple Crown kicks off on Saturday, Aug. 16, when 13 Canadian-breds go 10 furlongs on the synthetic Tapeta track in the King's Plate at Woodbine. The morning-line favorite is Mark Casse-trained Woodbine Oaks winner No Grade 1 E.P. Taylor Stakes makes a special appearance on the King's Plate day undercard, having been moved up from its September date due to planned upgrades to the E.P. Taylor turf course at the Toronto-area track. For the first time, the E.P. Taylor is a 'Win and You're In' for the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. Other races on the King's Plate undercard are the G2 King Edward Stakes for turf milers, G3 Bold Venture Stakes for sprinters on the synthetic, the Catch A Glimpse Stakes for juvenile fillies on the grass, and its brother-race, the Soaring Free Stakes for juvenile colts on the G1 action in the United States as well, with the 10-furlong G1 Alabama Stakes for the nation's top dirt sophomore fillies at Saratoga, and the G1 Del Mar Oaks for turf 3-year-old fillies at the seaside oval. 4:14 pm - G1 E.P. Taylor S at WoodbineLael Stables' She Feels Pretty returns to the site of her first G1 win for the 1 ¼-mile E.P. Taylor. The distance should benefit the American invader, who was second last out in the 1 ⅛-mile G1 Diana. She Feels Pretty won the G1 New York at 1 3/16-miles on the Belmont Stakes year's King's Plate winner Caitlinhergrtness attempts to be the first horse ever to win both the Plate and the E.P. Taylor. She finished third to She Feels Pretty in the 1 ⅛-mile QEII at Keeneland last fall. Charlie Appleby ships 4-for-6 filly Diamond Rain, a G3 winner at Newcastle in her most recent outing.E.P. Taylor Entries 5:34 pm - King's Plate at WoodbineGary Barber's No Time will try to become the seventh filly to win the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown since 2007. The second choice on the morning line is the Mark Dodson homebred Notorious Gangster, who was second in the Plate Trial last out to fourth-choice Sedburys Plate entries 5:44 pm - G1 Alabama S at SaratogaG1-winning fillies Good Cheer and La Cara will meet for the third time in the G1 Alabama. Right now, the score is even between the two, with Brad Cox-trained Good Cheer beating Mark Casse-trained La Cara in the Kentucky Oaks, and La Cara running away from her in the G1 the Alabama isn't a two-horse party. Casse-trained Nitrogen, 17-length winner of the off-turf G3 Wonder Again, and Cox-trained Black Eyed Susan winner Margie's Intention make it two for both trainers. There is also the Norwegian invader, Queen Azteca, winner of the G3 UAE Oaks in March, and Kinzie Queen completes the entries This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Aug 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
National Post
5 days ago
- Sport
- National Post
Kevin Attard taking three shots at winning his third King's Plate
Kevin Attard failed to win the King's Plate in his first 10 attempts. He has sure made up for that recently. Article content The veteran trainer had his breakthrough with Moira in 2022 and captured last year's running with Caitlinhergrtness. Article content Article content On Saturday, he will take three shots at win No. 3 in the $1-million classic. Article content His best chance is with Mansetti. Named for a pizza place in Minnesota, the son of Collected already has three stakes wins to his credit, including both the Woodstock and Marine Stakes this season. Article content 'I thought his effort in the Marine was outstanding,' Attard said. 'He was given a great ride and pounced at the perfect time.' Article content Sandwiched between his good efforts are some poor ones, so Attard hopes Mansetti's 'good race. bad race' trends are a thing of the past. Article content Faber, on the other hand, comes into the race looking to snap an eight-race losing skid. After winning his debut last year, the son of Improbable was not close in three stakes tries and has spent this season in the optional claiming ranks. Article content 'There's no doubt at all that he's a trier,' Attard said of the horse named after Minnesota Wild defenceman Brock Faber. 'He's always been a game horse with ability. The hope is that he can take all his strengths and come up big in the Plate.' If you're wondering what's up with these Minnesota connections, the two horses are owned by Al and Bill Ulwelling, residents of Elk River, Minn., and longtime Attard clients who won the 2023 Prince of Wales Stakes with Velocitor. Article content 'They've supported Canadian racing and Woodbine for a long time,' Attard said. 'They breed a lot of their mares here. So anyone who invests that heavily in the game, you wish them a lot of success.' Article content Attard's other entrant is Dewolf, who won twice as a two-year-old, including the Bull Page Stakes. With four other stakes placings, Attard is confident in Dewolf's ability. Article content 'The Plate is all about a horse being able to put it together at the right moment,' he said. 'We believe he has the foundation to be a good one.' Article content Flavien Prat, the reigning Eclipse Award winner as North America's top jockey, will ride. Article content And if you're wondering how Caitlinhergrtness is doing, fans will get to see her perform on Saturday in the $750,000 E.P. Taylor Stakes, a 'win-and-you're-in' qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf.
National Post
6 days ago
- Sport
- National Post
Notorious Gangster gives trainer Josie Carroll another shot at King's Plate notoriety
Josie Carroll has an excellent chance to win her fourth King's Plate at Woodbine on Saturday. Article content Notorious Gangster has proven to be near the top of the three-year-old rankings and definitely could join Edenwold, Inglorious and Mighty Heart on the veteran trainer's Plate honour roll. Article content Article content He showed his class with a win in the Queenston Stakes on June 8 and followed that up with a second-place finish in the Plate Trial despite having to overcome a really tough trip. Article content 'He's a very uncomplicated horse. He has a good mind,' Carroll said. 'That's a really important trait on Plate day when there's a huge crowd. Article content 'He's going to have to get a good trip because he's a closer.' Article content Listed as the 9-2 morning-line second choice in the $1-million race, Notorious Gangster also will be looking to end a curse that has been around since 1976: No winner of the Coronation Futurity as a two-year-old has won the Plate since Norcliffe that year. Article content Fraser Aebly, a B.C. native who is one of the rising stars of Woodbine's jockey colony, will get the ride. He made his Plate debut last year with a 12th-place finish. Article content SEEKING FOUR Article content Carroll isn't the only one looking for a fourth Plate. Rafael Hernandez will be looking to join Robin Platts, Sandy Hawley and the late Avelino Gomez as the only jockeys to win Canada's signature race four times. Article content Hernandez will ride Tom's Magic, a U.S. invader who has exclusively run on the turf in five career starts. A son of U.S. triple crown winner Justify, Tom's Magic has minor stakes wins at both the Fair Grounds and Monmouth so far this year. He does have experience training over Tapeta surfaces at Turfway Park. Article content Article content 'I like the horse a lot,' trainer Michael Stidham said. 'He's done things the right way.' Article content Article content 'He's has good preparation coming into this race. I think we're in there with a really live chance.' Article content In 2021, Safe Conduct came north to win the Plate after starting his career in similar fashion. Article content 'He did win pretty easily, I thought,' trainer Barb Minshall said about the July 20 win. 'He's a very nice horse and he's done everything right from Day 1.' Article content Sedbury's Ghost was coming off a fourth-place finish in the Marine Stakes one race prior but had two wins before that. Minshall said the son of 2015 Plate winner Shaman Ghost has matured nicely since last year. Article content 'He was a high-strung horse,' Minshall said. 'He has matured a whole lot. He was calm and professional in the paddock for the Plate Trial.'
