Page 9 - The Game April 2006

Your Thoroughbred Racing Community Newspaper The Game, April 2006 9
Unification,Wanna Runner top Queen's Plate Winterbook odds
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Foreign-based Thoroughbreds were prominent in the 146th running of the Queen's Plate in 2005 as Wild Desert edged fellow American King of Jazz in Canada's annual classic horse race.
While both horses were bred in Canada, therefore eligible for the Plate, they were raced by U.S. interests. Based on early projections, the trophy, the 50 guineas and the $600,000 first-place prize may again leave the country as the talented Unification, a U.S.- based, Dubai-owned runner, was today named the 4-1 Winterbook favourite for the 147th renewal of the $1 million Queen's Plate on Sunday, June 25, 2006 at
Woodbine.
Also, the 6-1 second choice for the 1 1/4-mile
"Gallop for the Guineas," Canada's most famous horse race and North America's oldest continuously-run stakes event, is another U.S.-based competitor. Wanna Runner is trained and owned in California by two high-profile names in the sport, Bob Baffert and Mike Pegram, respectively.
The 83rd edition of the Winterbook offers early odds on all 191 horses, 151 colts and geldings, as well as 40 fillies, nominated to the 2006 Queen's Plate.
Rounding out the top five in the Plate rankings is Edenwold, the country's champion two-year-old, at 8-1; double stakes winner Bad Hat is 10-1 and Pyramid Park, the Cup & Saucer Stakes hero, is 12-1.
Unification (4-1), a dark bay son of Dixie Union, is the early favourite on the strength of a win the Grade 2 Grey Breeders' Cup Stakes at Woodbine last October and some forward training and racing this winter in Dubai.
The Godolphin colour-bearer was trained to his 2-0-0 record in three 2005 starts by Eion Harty.
Wanna Runner (6-1) is an intriguing Plate prospect. The son of El Corredor recorded two wins in four starts in southern
California last year,
but it was his
excellent third-
place finish to
current Kentucky
Derby favourite
Brother Derek and
U.S. two-year-old
champion Stevie
Wonderboy in the
Grade 2 San Rafael
Stakes at Santa
Anita in January
that stamped him
contender.
Baffert and Pegram combined to win the Kentucky Derby in 1998 with Real Quiet.
The locals are led by Edenwold (8-1), a Southern Halo colt who was strong through the summer last year, winning the Colin, Vandal and the Simcoe Stakes at Woodbine en route to his Sovereign title.
The chestnut is trained by Josie Carroll for Jim and Alice Sapara. Most of the Carroll shedrow, including Edenwold, spent the winter in California.
Trainer Mike DePaulo has two Plate aces up his sleeve with Bad Hat (10-1) and Shillelagh Slew, who is the co-sixth choice in the Plate rankings at 15-1.
Bad Hat is an undefeated son of Bold Executive who continues to thrive in his winter training in Florida. The dark bay colt captured the Frost King and the Kingarvie Stakes last year for the partnership of Farr Bloodstock, Gerry Belanger, Ann and Wayne Hutchison. DePaulo also owns a piece of the horse.
Shillelagh Slew, a Chief Seattle colt, has a win and a nice third-place finish in the Coronation Futurity at Woodbine last November going into the season for owner David James.
Eaton Hall Farm's Pyramid Park (15-1) could be the Plate winner this year. The Tethra colt won the Cup & Saucer at Woodbine in October and was second in the Coronation Futurity, but it's his winter progress in Florida which has trainer Mike Doyle excited about 2006.
Bridgecut is 15-1 (tied for sixth in the rankings) and three at 20-1 wrap up the top ten (Lord of the Flame, Malakoff and Sail from Seattle).
The Winterbook rankings were compiled by handicapper Jennifer Morrison for the ninth straight year.
Racing fans can also participate in the Plate chase by playing the sixth annual Queen's Plate Fantasy Challenge at www.WoodbineEntertainment.com/fan- tasy. The contest, which launched in March, is FREE, with prizes available to be won.
A recap of the Top Ten and the entire list of Queen's Plate nominees and their Winterbook odds are avail- able at www.WoodbineEntertainment.com.
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