Horse racing fans of Ontario and Canada as a whole experienced an action-packed weekend of live racing as this year’s The Queen’s Plate was hosted on Sunday. Spectators at Woodbine Racetrack and online watched Safe Conduct grab the win at the CA$1 million purses stakes on the weekend. As the son of Bodemeister bested Riptide Rock by a head.
The Queen’s Plate is one of the most anticipated annual live harness racing events in the country and it is the first leg of the OLG Canadian Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing. This year’s thrilling event was the 162nd edition of the oldest continually run race in North America. The race was also streamed online on Woodbine Entertainment’s official website for more people to enjoy.
This Year’s Big Winner
This was the first time that Safe Conduct has competed in the Toronto oval Tapeta, and the bay colt emerged victorious in the CA$1 million annual event. The horse was a 3-1 of the crowd’s choice, and the trained by Phillip Serpe and owned by WellSpring Stables started promising from post one and got away second as Take a Chance led the race past the wire.
Take a Chance continued to lead with Safe Conduct narrowly behind him with an opening quarter of :24.01. Woodbine Oaks Presented by Budweiser champion Munnyfor Ro, was fifth at the time. As both fillies continued to dominate the race, Take a Chance was length ahead of Safe Conduct at the half-line with a time of :48.37. With Irad Ortiz Jr. at the reigns, Safe Conduct grabbed the victory with a time of 2:02.85.
Mr. Ortiz commented on the win, which was his first riding in The Queen’s Plate, by saying that the horse has shown good speed before the half. He explained that the colt continued by giving his all to the end. Mr. Ortiz stated that at the finish line he was unsure whether they have managed to win as their lead was very slim but they did.
The next events that horse racing fans will be now looking forward are the CA$400,000 Prince of Wales Stakes, which is a 1 3/16-mile race at Fort Erie on September 14. Then there are the $400,000 Breeders’ Stakes at 1 ½-miles over Woodbine’s E.P. Taylor Turf Course on October 3, 2021. Wando was the last horse to win the series and the seventh since its exception in 1959.
Guest Stars
This year’s edition of the highly-regarded The Queen’s Plate had also featured special celebrity guest ambassadors. Earlier this August, Woodbine Entertainment revealed that swimming medalists Penny Oleksiak and Kayla Sanchez will feature as special celebrity guests of the annual event. Additionally, the stakes breakfast will be hosted by Jason Partuondo and festivities that started around 10 a.m. ET on Sunday.
Calendar Update
Previously, Woodbine Entertainment had to make some adjustments to its Thoroughbred schedule. The Grade 1 the Ricoh Woodbine Mile, along with Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In”, Grade 2 CA$250,000 Canadian Stakes will be rescheduled to September 18. The Natalma Grade 1 and Summer Grade 1 will have an increased purse of CA$400,000 and a part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series, which will be hosted on September 19.
Source: “Safe Conduct guts out Queen’s Plate victory”, Woodbine Entertainment, August 22, 2021
