The Queen’s Plate is a race known for its great performances by fillies, and on Sunday at Woodbine, Moira put herself in the upper echelon of that list, winning the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown in track-record time.
Moira was bred in Ontario by Adena Springs, out of the Unbridled’s Song mare Devine Aida. She was purchased at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling sale from Hidden Brook Farm and is the second Stakes-winning Hidden Brook September grad in 24 hours after unbeaten juvenile Philip My Dear took Woodbine´s $150,000 Soaring Free Stakes.
The 3-year-old daughter of Ghostzapper settled in near the back of the pack, as The Minkster took command for the first trip down the homestretch. The Minkster opened up a 1 1/2-length advantage through an opening quarter in :23.75, and he continued to hold that margin through a half in :47.58.
The Minkster was followed closely by Ironstone, followed by a long gap back to the rest of the pack, and jockey Kazushi Kimura began to move aboard Ironstone as the two leaders reached the one-mile point in 1:36.33. Ironstone took command past the mile market, but in the meantime, jockey Rafael Hernandez had already begun rousing Moira into her move, and she was taking aim on the lead duo.
By the top of the stretch, Moira had already taken a three-length lead over the lead pair, and that margin continued to grow down the stretch until the filly crossed the wire seven lengths ahead of late-moving runner-up Hall of Dreams. Plate Trial winner Sir for Sure was two lengths further back in third.
Moira stopped the clock in the 1 1/4-mile race in 2:01.48, which was a track record time since Woodbine converted its main track to a synthetic surface in 2006. She topped the previous record time of 2:01.51 set by Delegation in 2013.
Moira paid $5.60 to win as the betting public’s second choice behind Rondure, who finished sixth.
Sunday’s Queen’s Plate was the second victory in the Canadian classic for Hernandez, and the first for trainer Kevin Attard. She is owned by the partnership of X-Men Racing, Madaket Stables, and SF Racing.
-edited from www.paulickreport.com
