The $150,000 Plate Trial Stakes at Woodbine is the major local prep for the $1 million Queen's Plate, the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown to be run on June 21. On Sunday May 31, a field of 10 Canadian-foaled 3-year-olds went to post in this 1 1/8 mile Polytrack feature, all carrying the Plate weight of 126 pounds. Achievement and Queenston Stakes winner El Brujo was the 8-5 favorite over 2-1 Southdale and 5-1 Eye of the Leopard, both making their stakes debuts in their 3rd lifetime starts having broken their maidens last out.
Costalivin battled for the lead with Southdale early, setting tepid fractions of 24.77, 49.66, and 1:13.78 with El Brujo stalking the leading pair in third. Turning for home, Costalivin tired and dropped from contention allowing Southdale to inherit the lead through a mile in 1:38.84. Eye of the Leopard, who was 6th early, came out wide into the stretch and closed on the far outside to get the win by a neck in 1:51.80. It was 2 lengths bck from Southdale to Rapid Release third, while El Brujo tired badly in the final furlong to finish ninth.
Full results chart
The Nassau Stakes (G2) - from Saturday won by Rutherienne
