Plate Posts Are In

Beneath a bright sun July 1 at Woodbine Racetrack, the connections of the 13 horses entered for the 151st running of the Queen's Plate gathered in the paddock to select their post positions for the July 4 race. The event was emceed by track announcer Dan Loiselle, with Canadian olympic medallist Alexandre Bilodeau serving as the guest drawmaster.

The first draw was for the selection sequence, which turned out as follows:

1. Smart Sky

2. Ghost Fleet

3. Big Red Mike

4. Roan Inish

5. Dark Cloud Dancer

6. Mobilizer

7. Giant's Tomb

8. Hotep

9. Mobthewarrior

10. Moment of Majesty

11. D's Wando

12. Who We Gunna Call

13. Vicar Street

After a two minute consultation period, the connections selected their positions:

1. Vicar Street, 30-1

2. Who We Gunna Call, 30-1

3. D's Wando, 20-1

4. Dark Cloud Dancer, 15-1

5. Big Red Mike, 6-1

6. Smart Sky, 30-1

7. Ghost Fleet, 20-1

8. Giant's Tomb, 12-1

9. Mobilizer, 7-2

10. Roan Inish, 9-2

11. Hotep, 3-1

12. Mobthewarrior, 10-1

13. Moment of Majesty, 12-1

I will spend the next few days tangling with my choices, but at this junction I have two sentimental choices and two logic choices. My sentimental picks are D's Wando and Mobthewarrior, both of which I helped raise and sale prep two years ago. My logic choices are Mobilizer and Roan Inish. Roan Inish trainer Carolyn Costigan has proven that she and her star filly can never be ignored, and I believe it would be foolish to overlook them now. Mobilizer is a horse that struck me from the beginning, and I believe he would have gotten a lot out of his Plate Trial runner-up effort. Attfield adds blinkers for this race.

Here are some photos from the July 1 draw:

Robert Costigan silks.

Emcee Dan Loiselle with guest drawmaster Alexandre Bilodeau.

Our beautiful racetrack.