Kevin Attard will have a busy few moments in the Woodbine saddling enclosure on Saturday.
Attard will send out four runners in the King’s Plate including the only filly in the race as the veteran trainer looks to duplicate his success of two years ago.
That success was provided by the very popular Moira, who has blossomed since then into a turf star. In addition to two top-three finishes in Grade 1 competition, Moira captured the Beverly D Stakes at Colonial Downs this past Sunday as she marches to a third-straight start in the Breeders’ Cup.
So can Caitlinhergreatness be the next star filly out of Attard’s barn? The daughter of Omaha Beach looked to have won the Woodbine Oaks on July 21 but was caught at the very end by Kin’s Concerto. Named after basketball phenom Caitlin Clark, she started her career in New York under trainer Todd Pletcher last fall, winning a race at Aqueduct. Under Attard’s care, she won her tuneup for the Oaks in early July.
“Her last two races have been excellent,” Attard said. “She has continued to mature and to raise the bar and show just how talented she is and can be.”
“She definitely belongs in here and the hope is she can continue to elevate her game.”
Attard will send two horses out for Al and Bill Ulwelling, the Minnesota-based owners who have been good supporters of Woodbine racing and Attard. They enjoyed success in last year’s Prince of Wales Stakes with Velocitor.
Jokestar may have only one victory in eight starts and a fifth-place finish in the Plate Trial Stakes but has an ability to show better.
“The road to get to the Plate is never an easy one for the horse,” Attard said. “That he made it to this moment speaks to his ability to overcome those ups and downs.”
Pierre has yet to compete in a stakes race. But a win, a second and two thirds so far in his career has earned him a place under the spotlight.
“He is a horse who keeps on improving and whose talent level comes out more and more each week,” Attard said. “This is a massive step up but he has shown he can rise to whatever challenge, morning or afternoon, that comes his way.”
Bedard is Attard’s fourth starter and this would be quite the occasion for the son of Nyquist to finally get a win. Named for Chicago Blackhawks centre Connor Bedard, the gelding missed the net on four occasions last year and twice more to start this campaign.
“Obviously things didn’t go as expected in those first few races,” Attard said. “But his race last October (one of three second-place finishes in his running lines) was encouraging.”
“This is a huge step up, but we know he has the capability to come up with a good one. Hopefully the stars align and he runs the type of race we know he can.”
Caitlinhergreatness will be ridden by Rafael Hernandez. Emma-Jayne Wilson will be aboard Jokestar. Pierre will be handled by David Cohen. And Pietro Moran will have his first Plate experience aboard Bedard.
Attard’s quartet will be among 13 runners in the 1 A1/4-mile, $1 million classic. The Mark Casse-trained My Boy Prince is the 7-5 morning-line favorite.