Dateline: 06/22/2004

A long-running tradition at Woodbine is the Queen's Plate Barbecue. Held early in the week leading up to the Queen's Plate, media, officials, connections, and their families gather in the large walking ring to enjoy a lunch, mostly cooked over open grills and served at one end of the ring, while Queen's Plate contenders are paraded at the other end of the ring. It is a great opportunity to see the horses posing with their proud connections, and unlike most events, it is a rare opportunity for the horses' grooms who are given recognition as well when the horse is brought out.

On Tuesday, seven of the expected fourteen Plate starters were brought out to be paraded in the walking ring. Below the list of contenders are photos of the horses and connections who were there.

Here are the latest contenders for the 2004 Queen's Plate with links to a profile for each and their connections. Post positions and odds will be added on Friday June 25 after the post position draw.

A Bit O'Gold is the expected favorite on Sunday, and was first to be brought out before the crowd by groom Leanne Amos. Trainer and co-owner Catherine Day Phillips were on hand along with several members of The Two Bit Racing Stable, a nine-member partnership led by managing partner Doug Anderson. Day Phillips said of her chances, "We were hoping for one big rin (in the Plate Trial) and that's what we got. He was all business." On Sunday she expects "a nice clean start, avoid any trouble, and cross the wire first." Here he is with trainer Day Phillips on the left and jockey Jono Jones on the right.

Archer Fleet comes from the same connections as 82-1 upset winner TJ's Lucky Moon in 2002. Led into the ring by groom Woody Johnston, Archer Fleet posed with co-owners John Armata and Giuseppe Mazarese, and trainer Vito Armata. Vito Armata, in the far right of the photo, said, "I'm just trying to follow TJ's footsteps. It's always nice to be in (the Plate), to be part of it."

Copper Trail, runner-up in the Victoria Park Stakes against open company, is brought into the ring by groom Maurice Laing. On hand were trainer Jim Day and owner Mario Stolar. Day said of his horse's tough loss in the Vic Park, that the winner "broadsided Copper Trail, knocking us off-stride. Copper Tral would have been a couple of lengths closer to him. He came from a long way back. He seemed to handle it well and seems to be quite a professional acting horse."

His Smoothness is also trained by Jim Day but is owned by Edna Arrow's Come By Chance Stable. Arrow is Day's 86-year-old mother, who is recovering from a broken ankle suffered in December and a broken hip in April. On hand with Day and groom Rick Pruss was new rider Jim McKnight. Before the barbecue, he went out for a 5 furlong workout timed in 1:02 1/5. "I couldn't leave him in the barn for two weeks," said Day. "I had to do something. I didn't feel I had to work him but I thought it made some sense. It was two weeks since his last start. That was a grass race and it was just a medium race. His race before that (Plate Trial, June 6, 5th place finish) was kind of a lethargic effort. There's not an exact book written on what makes sense or what doesn't make sense. You just use your gut instinct."

Just In Case Jimmy is going into the Plate off his maiden win, and was led into the ring by groom Jason Morocco. Asked how he was named, trainer and co-owner Roger Attfield said "I named him after a great friend, Jimmy Ward, the bartender in the Woodbine Turf Club. I always have the saying to him when I walk into the bar. 'Just in case, Jimmy!' And he knows to pour me one." Quite fitting given his sire is Whiskey Wisdom. "He's got a pretty laid-back attitude, he's a pretty uncomplicated guy." Jimmy is on the far right with Attfield beside him.

Silver Ticket was brought into the ring by groom Darryn Chedu for perennial powerhouse Sam-Son Farms and trainer Mark Frostad. Posing with the horse are Frostad, regular rider Todd Kabel, and Tammy Samuel-Balaz. He worked six furlongs on June 18th in 1:13 1/5. Assistant trainer Hugh Chatman said, "Todd (Kabel) was really happy with the work. I set a good pace (aboard a stablemate) and Todd had trouble staying behind me and he had to finally let him go. He worked nice and galloped out well."

Strike Em Hard is the first Plate starter as a trainer for co-owner David Cotey, and was brought out by groom Paul Eccleston. Also involved in ownership group Dominion Bloodstock are Hugh Galbraith, Derek Ball, and Greg Peacock. Strike Em Hard worked 5f in 1:00 3/5 last Sunday, which had Cotey "really pleased". Asked about his chances, Cotey said, "Distance won't be a factor. I knew it was going to take some time for him to get into the swing of things. In his works he showed potential. He knows what to do now."

Queen's Plate info online:

• Woodbine main page
• Woodbine Stable Notes - mostly Queen's Plate info now and updated frequently
• Queen's Plate Stats and Trivia
• Queen's Plate Trivia Quiz
• Queen's Plate Winners 1860-2002
  • 2003 Results - the winner was Wando who went on to win the Triple Crown
  • 2002 Results - the winner was T J's Lucky Moon
  • 2001 Results - the winner was Dancethruthedawn
  • 2000 Results - the winner was Scatter the Gold
  • 1999 Results - the winner was Woodcarver
• Live Audio/Video from Woodbine
• SLAM! Horse Racing - Canadian horse racing news from the Toronto Sun
• WayMoreSports.com Horse Racing - more Canadian racing news from the Toronto Star
• TSN Horse Racing - more Canadian racing news from The Sports Network
• News Index Search - articles from the various online news sources

All photos ©2004 Cindy Pierson Dulay.

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