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The connections and media view the Queen's Plate contenders in the walking ring at the barbecue  • Queen's Plate Entries

Date: 6/28/10

RESULTS ARE HERE!

At Woodbine, Queen's Plate week is traditionally kicked off by the annual barbecue. Held on the Monday before the Plate, media, officials, connections, and their families usually gather in the large walking ring to enjoy a delicious outdoor lunch, mostly cooked over open grills, while several Queen's Plate contenders are paraded in the walking ring. This is a great opportunity to see the horses posing with their proud connections, and unlike most events, it is a rare opportunity for the horses' grooms to receive recognition as well when the horse is brought out.

The post position draw for the 151st running of the Queen's Plate will be held at a breakfast event on Thursday morning. Post time for the Plate will be 5:38pm ET on Sunday July 4th, the 10th race on the card. The race will be televised in Canada on CBC in high definition from 4:30 - 6:00pm ET and simulcast to many locations across North America. In additional, the full card will be available on TVG in the USA and HPI in Canada. Free past performances will be available from BRISnet late on Thursday and full profiles for each horse are available from Woodbine.

At this year's Queen's Plate Barbecue, nine of the expected 12 starters were brought out to be paraded in the walking ring. Below are photos of the ones that were there along with a list of all the horses expected to enter.

Ghost Fleet was the first to be brought out before the crowd, escorted by groom Paul DeSouza. The Sid Attard trained son of Arch is winless since the Swynford last September, and comes into the Plate off a 6th place finish in the Plate Trial. He worked a bullet 5/8 in 57 4/5 last Monday. Attard (center) said, "He'd never worked as good. He came back screaming and kicking on his own. He wasn't even puffing or anything. I don't like to work horses hat's fast, but he did it easy and I was happy. I don't think the distance will be a problem. He'll go all day long." New jockey Richard Dos Ramos (far left) gets the call on Sunday for owner Jim Dandy Stable.

Mobilizer was brought out to the ring by groom Sarah Wood. His sire Motivator stands at the Royal Studs in Sandringham, which is owned by Queen Elizabeth II who will be in attendance on Sunday. He comes into the race off a close second in the Plate Trial in his stakes debut, and then worked a bullet 6f in 1:13 2/5 last Friday. Trainer Roger Attfield (wearing hat) said, "He's improving all the time. I didn't rush him. He has a 1 1/2 mile pedigree and I just gave him time. He's a decent sized horse and he's still developing right now." Regular rider Jono Jones (far left) will be aboard the Frank Stronach homebred.

D's Wando was escorted in by groom Mike Lewars. Winless since an allowance race last October, the son of 2003 Triple Crown winner Wando comes to the Plate off a 7th place finish in the Plate Trial after finishing 3rd in the Queenston. He worked 5f in 59 4/5 last Wednesday. Trainer Ian Black (right) said, "We were worried there wouldn't be much pace in the Plate Trial and decided to try and keep him a little closer than usual. I think that hindered his performance. We have to let him run his own race." Emma-Jayne Wilson (far left), who has been aboard for all 10 of his starts, will be in the irons on Sunday for owners D's Stable and partners.

Vicar Street was led into the ring by groom Melbourne Archer for owners Frank Annecchini (far left) and Rocco D'Alimonte and trainer Catherine Day Phillips (far right), the same connections of last year's Plate runner-up Mr. Foricos Two U. He is winless in 8 starts including a 5th place effort last out in a maiden event. Trainer Day Phillips said, "He become much more effective once he stretched out to 2 turns toward the end of last season. He has a very nice stride and a very easy way of going. We're taking a chance in running him in the Plate but he's doing well and he's faced several of these horses in the past." Tyler Pizarro, who rode him in his last 3 starts, gets the call in the Plate.

Mobthewarrior came out into the walking ring with groom Leroy Trotman. The son of Mobil comes to the Plate off a third place finish in the Plate Trial in his first race around two turns. Trainer Greg de Gannes (right, blue shirt) said, "I thought it was a huge effort. It was only his second start of the year and that wasn't our main focus. Our focus was always July 4. He was wide the whole trip in a paceless race. He'll appreciate the extra 1/8 mile. Ten furlongs and 126 pounds won't be a problem." Regular rider Emile Ramsammy (far right) will be in the irons in Sunday's Plate.

Smart Sky was brought into the walking ring by groom Michael Williams. The son of Sky Mesa broke his maiden on June 13 in a 1 1/8 mile race in his 10th start. Trainer Mike Doyle (brown hat) said, "He's just one of those slow-learning horses. It took a long time for the light to go on, and it has. He showed some real guts in his last race. Chantal (Sutherland) said he galloped out great. I think if he can run his race he'll be around at the end. My view was that if he improves he fits. If it works and it comes together we could have a Plate horse." Chantal Sutherland, who was aboard for his last 2 starts, will be back aboard on Sunday.

Dark Cloud Dancer, one of three entrants from Sam-Son Farm, was led in by groom Julio Mendoza. The son of Storm Cat out of Queen's Plate winner Dancethruthedawn will be making just his 4th career start in the Plate, including a runner-up finish in an allowance on June 6. He then worked 6f on the training track in 1:14 3/5 in company with stablemates Giant's Tomb and Hotep. Trainer Mark Frostad (center) said of his last start, "(Jockey Patrick Husbands) wanted to teach him something. He took him back off a slow pace. That was all by design. We wanted a good race out of him. " New jockey Javier Castellano will be in from New York to ride on Sunday.

Giant's Tomb, a son of 1997 Plate winner Awesome Again was brought into the ring by groom Linda Davis for owner-breeder Sam-Son Farms. He was fourth in the Plate Trial last out, beaten 2 3/4 lengths. Trainer Mark Frostad said, "He went 61 feet further than the winner. He was wide on both turns. That cost him a better placing. Hopefully he gets a good trip in the Plate. If there's a decent pace, which it should be, he might be right there. He might surprise a lot of people. He's ready." Frostad might add blinkers for the Plate as well. Mike Smith, who won the Queen's Plate the last time Queen Elizabeth II was on hand, will fly in from California to ride on Sunday.

Roan Inish, upset winner of the Woodbine Oaks, was brought into the walking ring by groom Bob Appleton and is expected to be the only filly in the race. The daughter of Elusive Quality out of Inish Glora worked 4f in 48 3/5 on Sunday. Trainer Carolyn Costigan (center), daughter of owner-breeder Robert Costigan (green striped shirt), said, "We were happy to see that her mother come out in her like we knew she would. The horse fights to the end. (The workout was) just to wake her up a little bit. She came out of the race in really good form." Davy Moran, who was aboard for her wins in the Princess Elizabeth and the Woodbine Oaks, will fly in from Ireland to ride on Sunday.

All the Queen's Plate probable starters with their connections and a link to a full profile from Woodbine:

The Queen's Plate trophy