King’s Plate prep: Plate Trial attracts 12
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TORONTO, July 16, 2026 – The $200,000 Plate Trial Stakes, a key fixture on the road to this year’s King’s Plate (August 15), has drawn 12 hopefuls, including Powell River, Sunday at Woodbine.
The 1 1/8-mile Plate Trial, for 3-year-olds foaled in Canada, will showcase some of the current contenders for the 167th edition of the longest continually run stakes race in North America.
Trained by multiple graded stakes winner Katerina Vassilieva for owner and breeder Chiefswood Stables, Powell River, a son of Justify out of Niigon (Chiefswood’s 2004 Plate winner) mare Niigon’s Eclipse, arrives at his first stakes engagement off an impressive maiden-breaking effort on June 14 at Woodbine.
Sent on his way as the 9-5 choice in the 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight main track race, Powell River took a narrow advantage in the seven-horse field into the first turn and carried on confidently along the backstretch. After briefly yielding the lead, the chestnut colt, pressured throughout most of the race, was back on top en route to a 1 ½-length victory in 1:45.04.
“I was impressed at how he hung tough,” said Vassilieva. “He was hounded by another horse. He made the lead, but there was a horse on his flank pressuring him for three quarters of the race. That’s a real test for a horse because a lot of them might collapse under that type of pressure. The fractions were a little quick – they went :47 and change to the half – so I thought that would really tell us right there if he continues on or stops. But he didn’t stop. He put that horse away and won the race. He galloped out well and showed us that he has that grit and competitiveness about him.
“There has always been a distance question with him. As a 2-year-old, he had some throat issues, and when we first started racing him, we were wondering if that would limit him as far as distance, but that hasn’t been the case so far. Every time we’ve stretched him out, he’s risen to the challenge.”
Unraced at 2, Powell River debuted over the turf at Gulfstream in early March and finished second at 34-1 in the 7 ½-furlong test. One race later, on May 1, this time over one mile on the Churchill Downs turf, he posted another runner-up result, at 22-1.
“Those two races in the U.S. make me confident,” said Vassilieva. “He was dealing with tougher competition, especially at Churchill on Kentucky Oaks day. That was a pretty deep field and I don’t think much was expected of him on that day – he was long odds – but he really showed up and ran a very nice second. Every time I watch this horse go out and run, I find myself having more and more confidence in him.”
Jamar “Fly” Goddard is the groom.
Recent works: Powell River’s past two works have both come at 4 furlongs over the main track. On July 5, he covered the distance in :47.40. One week later, he stopped the timer in :48.40.
Watch the work here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zy_89hjV-RY&list=PLRbf9TddIAes&index=2
“In his most recent move, he worked alone,” said Vassilieva. “It was a maintenance work. The week prior, we set him down a little bit. He worked with another horse in the barn, Blind River, and they went head-to-head in :47 and change. Both galloped out very strongly. I was happy with both of his [Powell River] works. He’s fit going into the race. Keeping him fit, sound and happy was the goal and he is all those things. He’s smart, he’s light on his feet and travels efficiently. He conserves energy, too. He’s everything you’d expect from a good athlete.”
Fast Facts: Avelino Gomez won nine editions of the race, the most by any jockey. Trainer Gord McCann won a record nine runnings. Trainer Mark Casse won three consecutive editions of the race – in 2022 with Sir For Sure, in 2023 with Paramount Prince and in 2024 with My Boy Prince. Chiefswood won the 2006 Plate Trial with Pipers Thunder. In 1955, Ace Marine won two versions of the race, one at 6 furlongs and another at a mile and 70 yards.
Wagering menu for the Plate Trial: Rolling Double / Exacta / 0.20 Trifecta / 0.20 Superfecta / 0.20 Pick 3 (Races 9-10-11) / 0.20 Jackpot Power Pk 6 (Races 9-10-11-12-13-14) / $1 Swinger.
The Woodbine Oaks card also features the $5 Woodbine Stakes Pick 3, an all-stakes sequence linking the Nassau Stakes (G2T), Plate Trial Stakes, and bet365 Connaught Cup (G2T). The Woodbine Stakes Pick 3 appears as a separate card from the main Woodbine card and can be found as "Woodbine Stakes Pick 3" wherever Woodbine wagering is available.
Chris Lomon, Woodbine
Field for the Plate Trial
Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer
1 – Don Ique – John Velazquez – Josie Carroll
2 – Very Special – Romero Ramsay Maragh – Kevin Attard
3 – Twentytwo Soles – Adam Beschizza – Kevin Attard
4 – Military Time – Fraser Aebly – Mark Casse
5 – Imyourmedicineman – Luis Contreras – Harold Ladouceur
6 – Highwaytothemoon – Rafael Hernandez – Dale Desruisseaux
7 – Amore Mio – Luis Reyes – Pat Parente
8 – Fire and Wine – Slade Jones – Zeljko Krcmar
9 – Speights Will – Jose Campos – Steven Chircop
10 – Casson – Sahin Civaci – Mark Casse
11 – Powell River – Ryan Munger – Katerina Vassilieva
12 – Baaeed Alynna – Pietro Moran – Kevin Atttard
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