Luster heavily favored to land King's Plate

Luster will be heavily favored to add her name to an illustrious list of filly winners of the C$1 million King’s Plate at Woodbine on Saturday.

The 1 1/4-mile King’s Plate, the first Canadian classic of the year, is restricted to Canadian-bred three-year-olds. Luster was installed the even-money favorite on the morning line and will break from post 1 in a field of 12.

Luster enters with four wins from five starts and is undefeated around two turns. The daughter of Knicks Go won the Selene (G3) two back, then dominated the Woodbine Oaks by more than five lengths. Dixie Law, who placed behind Luster in both of those races, is another Plate entrant.

Fillies have won six Plates since the installation of Woodbine’s synthetic main track two decades ago, including Moira in 2022 and Caitlinhergrtness in 2024.

Among the male contenders are the respective top three finishers from the Plate Trial: Highwaytothemoon, Imyourmedicineman, and Military Time. However, Luster ran more than a full second faster when winning the 1 1/8-mile Woodbine Oaks than Highwaytothemoon did in the Plate Trial on July 19.

Also likely to attract some support are Brachetto and Magical Factor, the one-two finishers of the Marine (G3) in late June.

Woodbine’s Saturday card includes five other stakes, including the King Edward (G2), Canadian (G2), and Bold Venture (G3).