Gordie Howe serves as the Plate drawmaster on Thursday. (Michael Burns/Canadian Press)When Eye of the Leopard breaks from the seven stall as the 7-2 morning line second favourite for Sunday’s 150th running of the Queen’s Plate in Toronto, he’ll be able to keep both eyes on his main challengers.
That would be the two fillies — Milwaukee Appeal, Sunday’s top choice (as set by odds maker Jennifer Morrison), is three horses to his left in gate four, and Tasty Temptation (third choice) runs four to his right out of the No. 11 hole.
They are the key post positions as drawn by Mr. Hockey, Gordie Howe, during the annual breakfast on Thursday morning at Woodbine Racetrack.
Both the young ladies continue a long tradition of excellent fillies in North America’s oldest stakes race — 33 times a horse from the distaff side has won the Gallop for the Guineas, a feat pulled most recently by Dancethruthedawn in 2001.
It’s a number far above what you might find in an American stakes race, and Tasty Temptation’s trainer Mark Casse has a theory about that.
"I think that Canada, more than the United States, is a little more European in their thought process," says the Indianapolis-born conditioner. “If we were in Europe and this were the Arc de Triomphe [race], they wouldn’t be saying anything about running a filly against a colt.
"They run them all the time against each other."
It still comes down to speed and Casse is convinced his horse, an experienced animal with an occasionally nasty disposition, has what it takes. That’s despite finishing second in the Canadian Oaks two weeks ago off a horrible start.
"The bottom line is, is she good enough? And all indications show she is good enough."
Morrison was convinced, slotting Tasty Temptation and jockey Patrick Husbands at 4-1 as the third pick.
Scott Fairlie’s Milwaukee Appeal, 3-1, carried Stewart Elliott to an impressive Oaks victory and her trainer is just as confident.
"She’s absolutely awesome," said Fairlie, who is bringing his horse back for her third race in five weeks. "I've gotta be confident, I’ve got to feel my horse is the horse to beat."
A lot of thought went into Milwaukee Appeal’s entry, only confirmed on Thursday, because of her busy schedule, and Fairlie said the key was not to make a rash decision.
"She’s very well seasoned, she had quite a few races as a two-year-old and it just goes back to the same concern of three races in five weeks, but we wouldn’t have put her in if she wasn’t doing well, and she’s doing really well."
Eye of the Leopard is one of the lightest raced horses in the field with just three starts, one of them a good win in the Plate Trial. Fortune has been smiling on the Sam-Son Farm entry as he raced to get ready.
On Thursday, his handlers drew the first choice of post-position and Frostad chose seven.
"That’s the lucky No. 7," the trainer grinned. "We just thought that would be a good spot — fortunately, the way they drew it most of the speed is on the inside."
Including Milwaukee Appeal, and Mr. Foricos Two U., trained by Catherine Day Phillips and ridden by U.S. star Mike Smith. Mr. Foricus is coming out of the five spot at a surprisingly high 15-1.
"I think the public will probably go with the filly [Milwaukee Appeal]," said Frostad, who conditioned Dancethruthedawn in 2001 for Sam-Son. "The only concern I would think with the bettors would be the potential bounce of a peak effort like the Oaks."
Other post positions of note include Roger Attfield’s Rapid Release, out of the eight stall (if Attfield triumphs he’ll become the winningest Plate trainer of all time with nine), and Steve Attard’s Keino West (15-1) way outside in the 13 slot for the 13-horse field.
