3 days ago
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.
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The veteran trainer had his breakthrough with Moira in 2022 and captured last year's running with Caitlinhergrtness.
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On Saturday, he will take three shots at win No. 3 in the $1-million classic.
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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.
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'I thought his effort in the Marine was outstanding,' Attard said. 'He was given a great ride and pounced at the perfect time.'
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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.
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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.
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'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.
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'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.'
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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.
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'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.'
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Flavien Prat, the reigning Eclipse Award winner as North America's top jockey, will ride.
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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.
