Wild Desert proves best in Queen's Plate

Daniel Borislow et al's WILD DESERT (Wild Rush) split horses in the stretch

and gamely held off fellow U.S. shipper King of Jazz (K One King) late to earn

a win in the $812,700

Queen's Plate S. at Woodbine on Sunday. Running under

the conditioning of Bobby Frankel for the first time, the bay colt rated in

midpack behind fractions of :23 4/5, :48 1/5, 1:13 4/5 and 1:39 4/5 for the

opening mile of the 10-furlong race. Jockey Pat Valenzuela began to urge his

mount turning for home and the colt responded, stopping the timer in 2:07 1/5 en

route to his first stakes score. The winning margin was a half-length, and the

3-1 shot gave back $8.30, $4.70 and $4.50 while keying exotics of $40.30

(exactor), $209.20 (triactor) and $1,973.60 ($1 superfecta).

King of Jazz led briefly while four-wide in the lane but could not match

strides with the winner late, finishing 3 3/4 lengths clear of third. The

gelding was good for $5.90 and $4.90 at 5-1. Pacesetting filly Gold Strike

(Smart Strike) did well to garner the show spot, worth $3.70 as the 7-2 third

choice. Molinaro Beau (Tempolake) completed the superfecta while another 2 1/4

lengths back at 53-1. Ablo (Lite The Fuse), Granique (Mutakddim), 2-1 favorite

Dance With Ravens (A.P. Indy), Get Down (Doneraile Court) and Three in the Bag

(Silver Deputy) completed the order of finish, while Runnaway Mon (Maria's Mon)

was withdrawn.

Wild Desert moved his career mark to 12-3-3-1, with placings in the Lane's

End S. (G2), Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2) and Dover S. The colt's earnings have

ballooned to $685,476 following the win.

Bred in Ontario, Canada, by Windways Farm Limited, the winner fetched a bid of $40,000 at the 2003 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July

Yearling Sale and was produced from the stakes-winning Desert Wine mare Desert

Radiance. He has an unraced two-year-old half-sister named Kick'em Jenny (Bold

Executive) and an unnamed yearling half-brother by Cat's At Home.