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Rancho Bernardo Stakes Kings Plate Results Hall of Fame Inductions King's Plate entries Sorrento Stakes |
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 Co-owner Andrew Rosen (right) and groom Brandon Duchaine (left) lead Luster with jockey John Velazquez to the winner's circle. • King Edward Stakes (G2), Canadian (G2), Bold Venture (G3), Soaring Free, and Catch a Glimpse |
Date: 8/15/2026
On Saturday afternoon, a field of 12 Canadian-foaled 3-year-olds raced 1 1/4 miles over the Tapeta surface at Woodbine in the 167th running of the $1 million King's Plate Stakes, the oldest continuously-run stakes race in North America and the first leg of the OLG Canadian Triple Crown, with a $500,000 bonus should a horse complete the sweep. Conditions were typical for mid August in Southern Ontario, with sunny skies and a race time temperature of 24.2 C (75.6 F).
Luster, one of two fillies in the field, was sent off as the 1-4 favorite off wins in the Selene Stakes (G3) and the Woodbine Oaks. In to challenge her included 10-1 second choice Magical Factor off a close second in the Marine Stakes (G3) and 12-1 Highwaytothemoon off wins in the Queenston Stakes and Plate Trial Stakes.
 Down the stretch with Luster out front. |
Check out the five other stakes on the card: the King Edward Stakes (G2) won by Gas Me Up, the Canadian Stakes (G2) won by Proctor Street, the Bold Venture Stakes (G3) won by Souped Up, the Catch A Glimpse Stakes won by Meloni, and the Soaring Free Stakes won by De La Renta.
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show 1 Luster Velazquez 2.50 2.10 2.20 12 Military Time Aebly 8.20 5.70 2 Fire and Wine Samuel 13.60 Winning Time: 2:02.01 $1 Exacta 1-12 17.05 $2 Trifecta 1-12-2 1,071.40 $2 Superfecta 1-12-2-5 5,670.30 |
Left: Luster in the winner's circle. Winning trainer Josie Carroll, celebrating her fourth Plate said, "She was in masterful hands. It's a game of patience. You watch Johnny take her through the trip - he sat and you could see he was confident at any point in the race - just waiting for the right spot to move her. That gave me a lot confidence, the way he was moving on her."
Right: Luster gets hosed off after the race.
Left: The Honourable Edith Dumont, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, presents the King's Plate trophy. Co-owner Andrew Rosen said, "It's amazing. I've been in the business over 40 years, and winning a race like this is just fantastic. It's what it's all about. Last year, Josie told me that we were going to be standing here. So, she's quite special, Luster. I think Josie knew that right from the get-go, and Josie's done an amazing job with her. We're just so happy to have her as our trainer, and Johnny, of course, did a great job."
Right: Luster being led across the inner turf just before reaching the infield winners' circle. Winning jockey John Velazquez, celebrating his second Plate win said, "She broke so well and I didn't want to be in her mouth right away. I wanted to give her a sixteenth of a mile. I knew the horse next to me (Fire and Wine) was going to the lead, and right before the wire (first time by), I got her back and she relaxed. I was really comfortable where I was."
Left: Trainer Josie Carroll and co-owner Andrew Rosen pose with the trophy. Velazquez did not stay for these usual poses as he was booked to ride Piper's Factor in the next race (King Edward).
Right: Luster parades for the fans with her flower blanket after the race. Asked about her next start, Carroll mentioned the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1) at Keeneland. She added, "I have to speak to the owners, but before the race, we agreed that win, lose, draw we would give her a little break after this and then regroup and look for her next start."
Left: Luster in the paddock before the race. Velazquez added, "I didn't want to be behind the horse that was on the lead, obviously. And so, once I put myself in that position, I had a horse right on my outside, and I made sure I pushed him out. And then I sat again. She was perfect, sitting where I was. Coming to the quarter- pole, I asked her to go, and she responded really nice. I'm very, very blessed to have a horse like that. I want to thank the partnership for letting me ride her. I'm very, very happy that I'm part of the team."
Right: Luster in the post parade.
Left: Second place finisher Military Time in the paddock before the race. The Mark Casse trainee improved his record to 2 wins, 3 seconds, and 1 third in 7 starts, earning $295,747 for owners Gary Barber and St. Elias Stable.
Right: Third place finisher Fire and Wine returns after the race. The Zeljko Krcmar trainee improved his record to 2 wins, 0 seconds, and 4 thirds in 11 starts, earning $221,088 for owner Paul Ryder.
The horses break from the gate for the 167th King's Plate.
The Honourable Edith Dumont, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario was the Royal Representative at this year's King's Plate, arriving in the traditional horse-drawn landau first used by King George VI in 1939. On arrival (right) she was presented with flowers by Amelia Da Silva, daughter of retired jockey Eurico Rosa da Silva. Dumont worked for CEPEO, the public school board for French language schools in Eastern Ontario including Ottawa for 30 years, becoming its director of education and secretary-treasurer, before serving as a vice-president of the Université de l'Ontario français (University of French Ontario), the French language public university in downtown Toronto.
Left: Here is the arrival of the landau accompanied by the Toronto Police Mounted Unit and the Governor General's Horse Guards.
Right: Dumont tours the walking ring with Woodbine CEO Jim Lawson (left) while the horses are saddled for the King's Plate.
King's Plate info online:
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