Kalik, Elysian Field lead overflow field in King’s Plate

For the first time in 72 years, Canada’s signature classic will be run as the King’s Plate on Sunday. The C$1 million prize recognizing the British sovereign had been named the Queen’s Plate throughout the long reign of the late Elizabeth II. Fittingly, the last renewal was won by a filly, the eventual Canadian Horse of the Year Moira. Elysian Field and Wickenheiser will try to keep the female trend going at Woodbine in the new era of Charles III, if they can overcome males led by Chad Brown shipper Kalik.

Although Kalik has yet to race on a synthetic surface, the son of the versatile Collected has performed well on turf. He won three straight, capped by a wire-to-wire victory in the June 3 Pennine Ridge (G2) over Far Bridge. Kalik comes off a subpar eighth behind Far Bridge in the Belmont Derby (G1), where he was out of position early. The 3-1 morning line favorite in the King’s Plate, Kalik picks up Kazushi Kimura.

Paramount Prince and Stanley House bookend the six Plate Trial alumni advancing to the King’s Plate. The respective second through fifth-place finishers in the prep – Cool Kiss, Twin City, Velocitor, and Philip My Dear – all renew rivalry as well.

Well-bred Touch’n Ride, a Candy Ride half-brother to 2018 Breeders’ S. winner Neepawa, takes the class hike off a dominant maiden score for Josie Carroll. The Plate’s all-time leading trainer, Roger Attfield, goes for a ninth win with his homebred Twowaycrossing. A son of English Channel from the family of 2019 Kentucky Derby winner Country House and Canadian classic hero Breaking Lucky, Twowaycrossing exits an allowance win.

Rounding out the overflow field of 19 are recent allowance winners Silent Miracle and Midnight in Malibu; Moon Landing, who adds blinkers after a close third to Midnight in Malibu; 50-1 longshots El Cohete and Morstachy’s; and the two also-eligibles, Enjoythesilent and thrice-raced maiden Runaway Charlie, Moira’s brother.

Update: Woodbine announced on Saturday that Enjoythesilent was erroneously on the also-eligible list, due to incorrect earnings tabulated by Equibase. Upon recalculation, Enjoythesilent should be in the main body of the field, and El Cohete relegated as the first also-eligible.

The stewards will resolve the situation, according to the press release:

"After discussion with the AGCO stewards, the decision has been made that should no horses scratch by Sunday morning, El Cohete will be a Steward’s scratch and Enjoythesilent will draw into the race. Should any other horse scratch, both horses will be allowed to race."

The King’s Plate is set for 5:39 p.m. (ET) as the 10th race. Reigning titleholder Moira will make an appearance in the immediately preceding race, the C$200,000 Dance Smartly (G2) on turf. The undercard also features the C$150,000 Bold Venture (G3) and a pair of C$125,000 stakes for turf juveniles, the Soaring Free S. and Catch a Glimpse S.