DATE WITH THE PLATE

DAAHER SEEKS PLATE SURPRISE

Awesome, again?

Darley’s DAAHER, an Ontario-bred AWESOME AGAIN – IRISH CHERRY colt with just 2 races in his career, is scheduled to arrive at Woodbine on Wednesday for next Sunday’s Queen’s Plate.

Trainer KIARAN MCLAUGHLIN said yesterday that the colt, who would have to be supplemented for $25,000 since he was not originally eligible, is “really a nice horse” but that “we know we’re in a little tough”.

Daaher ran a 90 Beyer Figure when he won his maiden.

The colt had a chip taken out of a knee last year which is why he did not race as a juvenile. The colt ducked out at the start of his debut race but is obviously a fast learner.

“I’m not too familiar with the other horses in the race, I know Todd’s horse (Twilight Meteor).”

Oh yes, the colt's sire won the 1997 Plate after just two races - one maiden score and a third. Hmmmmm.

Alan Garcia will ride Daaher.

PLATE IS THE COZ

JIGGS COZ, who figures to be heavily favoured in the Queen’s Plate, had his typical, steady and strong 6 furlong workout yesterday morning on Polytrack. The grey Cozzene colt went in 1:13 4/5 with David Clark up for trainer Sid Attard.

Also on the worktab was HIGH ACT, who was considered a serious Plate contender a couple of months ago but an injury has sidelined the El Prado colt. The Stronach Stables runner worked in 1:03 1/5 for 5 furlongs.

REPLAYS ON HPI.COM SOON

WOODBINE’S betting site HPI.COM will indeed have replays of its races available soon according to the folks at the Toronto track. The re-vamped HPI.com site is set to launch in the coming weeks and replays will be made available.

As for the readers who discussed the music between races – this is something I will attempt to investigate. Air Supply? Eeks.

WOODBINE THURSDAY

Just $1.5 million bet on the Thursday card (perhaps a move towards racing 4 days a week without the Thursday card is in Woodbine’s future?) but some folks had good days.

GREG DE GANNES won a pair with the long striding TWICE A PRINCESS in the 1^st race who won for just $10,000 claiming but looked like she was having a fun time doing it.

Clarity Stables’ ARMED AND HAMMERED, the first winner for his sire China Ruckus, won again to remain undefeated, winning an Ontario-sired allowance race for De Gannes et al.

Leading trainer ROBERT TILLER won a pair with YOLIE (Menifee) and METHODTOMYMADNESS (American Chance). The latter was returning from a layoff of one year and won for the 2^nd time in his 8 career starts.

Stakes winning ESTEVAN was claimed for a hefty $62,500 by owner/trainer Barb Minshall yesterday. The 6-year-old horse finished 11^th in the grass race. Gail Wood-bred ANOTHER ASCOT stalked the pace all the way and won the 1 1/16 mile race for California Stable and trainer Mike DePaulo. The gelding is by Ascot Knight and he went over the $200,000 mark in earnings.

Middle Bay, the gritty little chestnut by With Approval, won his 10^th race in his 27^th start yesterday ($15,000 claiming) and joined the growing ‘3 wins at the meeting club’.

Young trainer KEVIN ATTARD, who is readying two colts for the Queen’s Plate, added another win in the finale when the flashy chestnut ELEFTHERIA (By the Knob Hill stallion Megas Vukefalos) upset a $19,000 claiming race. The filly was 12^th throughout her season debut (“no apparent mishap” was the comment in the chart) for $37,500 with a 35 Beyer Figure but sure was on top of her game yesterday. After the race ATHENAIS lost jockey Justin Stein after the pair were involved in a crowded run to the wire. Apparently neither horse or rider were injured.

*Starting tomorrow on RACING DISPATCH (www.racingdispatch.com), THOROUGHBLOG will provide a Queen’s Plate diary leading up to the June 24 Canadian classic.