June 24, 2007
The $1 million Queen's Plate, the oldest continuously run stakes race in North America, kicks off the Canadian Triple Crown, and is Canada's version of the Kentucky Derby. This year, only eight starters went to the gate to contest the 1 1/4 mile distance over the Polytrack at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto. Plate Trial winner and local hope Jiggs Coz was the 6-5 favorite over 7-2 Daaher from Kiaran McLaughlin's Belmont Park barn, and Plate Trial runner-up Marchfield, locally trained by Mark Casse for owner Eugene Melnyk. Todd Pletcher trainee Twilight Meteor was the 9-2 fourth choice on the tote board.
16-1 Alezzandro led most of the way around with jockey Todd Kabel in the irons, setting a pace of 23.66, 47.74, 1:12.51, and 1:37.48 over the fast track, while being stalked for the first 3/4 by Twilight Meteor and jockey John Velazquez. 15-1 Mike Fox stayed close to them in third the whole way, while favorite Jiggs Coz was fourth in a perfect stalking position out of trouble three-wide. Twilight Meteor faded to an eventual 7th place finish entering the stretch, as Alezzandro began to widen his lead to 2 1/2 lengths in mid stretch. Emma-Jayne Wilson, aboard Mike Fox, asked him for run and got it as he accelerated between Alezzandro on the rail and Jiggs Coz to the outside to get the victory by 1/2 a length over Alezzandro in the final strides, completing the trip in 2:05.45. Jiggs Coz was another 1 1/4 lengths back in third., while Daaher could not improve position and was fourth.
Results chart from DRF
