Queens Plate Field and Post Positions

The draw for this years Queen's Plate has been completed and an interesting field of 17 is set to contest the 152nd gallop for the guinneas on Sunday.

1. Imhotep 
2. Curgone
3. Oh Canada
4. One Big Gator
5. Pender Harbour
6. Head Honcho
7. Strike Oil
8. Okiyama
9. Inglorious
10. Enduring Star
11. Ojibway Signal
12. Seawatch
13. Check Your Soul
14. Queens Plate Kitten
15. Hippolytus
16. Bowmans Causeway
17. Maple Leaf Kitten

The dreaded 1 hole was left over for Imhotep.  With front running guru Emile Ramsammy aboard and plenty of room to the inside of the 1 hole (due to the configuration of the starting gates where the auxillary gate will be placed next to the rail and the 1, 2 and 3 doors left vacant) I expect Imhotep to head to the front.  The inside and speed worked well for Big Red Mike last year and Imhotep was a long shot worth considering to begin with.

The only confirmed front runner is Curgone who will have Go-Go Gomez aboard.  He drew well for speed in the 2 hole and should face little conflicting speed in what should be a slow opening half mile.

Morning line favourite Check Your Soul opted for the 13 hole with positions 9 through 12 still available.  Roger Attfield and Charles Fipke were in lucky 13 for Not Bourbon's win and look to be twice lucky from the same spot.  As an unintended consequence of that move, the other favourite, Queen'splatekitten drew right alongside him in post 14.  The cat and mouse game between jockeys Patrick Husbands and John Velazquez will be very interesting to watch as both horses appear to be able to be ridden in any portion of the race.

The filly Inglorious drew right in the middle with post 9.  The middle is a very crowded area of middle of the pack runners and it could a little difficult for jockey Luis Contreras to find a comfortable position to travel in.  The good news for her connections is that she, more than any other in the field has proven herself in congested areas before.

For me the most intriguing draw is Bowman's Causeway way out wide in post 16.  he has shown adaptable racing styles in the past and it will be interesting to see just how far forward jockey Eurico Rosa Da Silva wants to be in the early stages of the race. 

With the Plate just three days away it's time to start handicapping!