# Plate Trial Stakes

The Plate Trial Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred flat horserace for three-Year-Olds, foaled in Canada run annually at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. Raced in early June, the 1+1⁄8-mile race on dirt is considered one of the most important prep races for Canada's premier horse race, the Queen's Plate.
Inaugurated in 1944 at the Old Woodbine Race Course as a six furlong sprint race, it was moved to the new Woodbine Racetrack in 1957 following that track's closure. In the first forty-eight years, a total of twenty-two winners of the Plate Trial Stakes went on to win the Queen's Plate. However, in the last sixteen years, no horse has accomplished the feat. Most recently, 2012 Plate Trial winner, River Rush, finished a disappointing 6th in the 2012 running of the Plate.
Hall of Fame jockey Avelino Gomez won this race a record nine times including four in a row from 1964 through 1967.
In 1955, Ace Marine won two versions of the race, one at six furlongs and another at a mile and 70 yards.
Since inception, the Plate Trial has been contested at various distances. In 1955, it was run as two races at the Old Woodbine Race Course. The first race consisted of four divisions and contested at 6 furlongs and the second race was made up of three divisions at 1 mile and 70 yards. In other years the distance was:
* 6 furlongs : 1944–1955 at Old Woodbine Race Course
* 7 furlongs : 1956 at Old Woodbine Race Course
* 8.5 furlongs (1+1⁄16 miles) : 1957-1979 Woodbine Racetrack
* 9 furlongs (1+1⁄8 miles) : since 1980 at Woodbine Racetrack

## Records

Time record: (a current distance of 1+1⁄8 miles)
* 1:48.97 - River Rush (2012)
Most wins by an owner:
* 12 - E. P. & Winnifred Taylor and/or Windfields Farm: (1949, 1952 (2), 1953, 1954 (2), 1957 (2), 1960, 1963, 1979, 1988)
Most wins by a jockey:
* 9 - Avelino Gomez (1955, 1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967)
Most wins by a trainer:
* 9 - Gordon J. McCann (1952 (2), 1953, 1954 (2), 1957 (2), 1960, 1963)

## Winners of the Plate Trial Stakes since 1987

| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Time |
| 2023 | Paramount Prince | Patrick Husbands | Mark Casse | Michael J. Langlois & Gary Barber | 1:49.99 |
| 2022 | Sir For Sure | Declan Carroll | Mark Casse | Heste Sport Inc. | 1:50.62 |
| 2021 | Avoman | Antonio Gallardo | Donald MacRae | D-Mac Racing Stable & La Huerta | 1:52.84 |
| 2020 | Clayton | Rafael M. Hernandez | Kevin Attard | Donato Lanni & Daniel Plouffe | 1:50.61 |
| 2019 | Pay For Peace | Luis Contreras | Rachel Holden | Team Penney Racing & Carem Stable | 1:51.63 |
| 2018 | Telekinesis | Patrick Husbands | Mark Casse | Stonestreet Stables | 1:50.40 |
| 2017 | Guy Caballero | Rafael M. Hernandez | Catherine Day Phillips | Sean & Dorothy Fitzhenry | 1:51.32 |
| 2016 | Amis Gismo | Luis Contreras | Josie Carroll | Ivan Dalos | 1:52.12 |
| 2015 | Danish Dynaformer | Luis Contreras | Roger L. Attfield | Charles E. Fipke | 1:49.81 |
| 2014 | We Miss Artie | Javier Castellano | Todd Pletcher | Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey | 1:50.78 |
| 2013 | Dynamic Sky | Joel Rosario | Mark Casse | John Oxley | 1:50.59 |
| 2012 | River Rush | Jim McAleney | Stronach Stables | Reade Baker | 1:48.97 |
| 2011 | Check Your Soul | Patrick Husbands | Roger Attfield | Charles E. Fipke | 1:51.16 |
| 2010 | Big Red Mike | Eurico Rosa da Silva | Nicholas Gonzalez | Terra Racing Stable | 1:50.41 |
| 2009 | Eye of the Leopard | Eurico Rosa Da Silva | Mark Frostad | Sam-Son Farm | 1:51.80 |
| 2008 | Not Bourbon | Jono Jones | Roger Attfield | Charles E. Fipke | 1:49.73 |
| 2007 | Jiggs Coz | David Clark | Sid C. Attard | Mel P. Lawson | 1:50.77 |
| 2006 | Pipers Thunder | Ray Sabourin | Eric Coatrieux | Chiefswood Stable | 1:51.65 |
| 2005 | Three In The Bag * | Robert Landry | Stanley M. Hough | Castletop Stable | 1:52.52 |
| 2004 | A Bit O'Gold | Jono Jones | Catherine Day Phillips | The Two Bit Racing Stable | 1:51.74 |
| 2003 | Mobil | Todd Kabel | Mike Keogh | Gus Schickedanz | 1:51.84 |
| 2002 | Shaws Creek | Jake Barton | John A. Ross | Bud Reynolds | 1:52.38 |
| 2001 | Win City | Constant Montpellier | Robert P. Tiller | Frank DiGiulio Jr. | 1:52.08 |
| 2000 | Pete's Sake | Patrick Husbands | Todd A. Pletcher | Gerald Frankel | 1:53.05 |
| 1999 | Catahoula Parish | Robert Landry | John A. Ross | Jam Jar Racing | 1:51.18 |
| 1998 | Brite Adam | James McKnight | Rita Schnitzler | R.M.C. Stable | 1:50.60 |
| 1997 | Cryptocloser | Willie Martinez | Mark Frostad | Earle I. Mack & William A. Sorokolit Sr. | 1:51.00 |
| 1996 | Northface | Todd Kabel | Daniel J. Vella | Frank Stronach | 1:50.00 |
| 1995 | All Firmed Up | Todd Kabel | Daniel J. Vella | Frank Stronach | 1:50.60 |
| 1994 | Bruce's Mill | Dave Penna | Mark Frostad | Earle I. Mack et al. | 1:50.60 |
| 1993 | Circulating | Richard Dos Ramos | Roderick W. Wright | Sherwood/Sheehan Farms | 1:52.40 |
| 1992 | Alydeed | Craig Perret | Roger Attfield | Kinghaven Farms | 1:50.00 |
| 1991 | Megas Vukefalos * | Mickey Walls | Jerry C. Meyer | Knob Hill Stable | 1:51.00 |
| 1991 | Bolulight * | Don Seymour | Roger Attfield | Kinghaven Farms | 1:51.00 |
| 1990 | Izvestia | Don Seymour | Roger Attfield | Kinghaven Farms | 1:50.40 |
| 1989 | With Approval | Don Seymour | Roger Attfield | Kinghaven Farms | 1:50.80 |
| 1988 | Regal Classic | Sandy Hawley | James E. Day | Sam-Son / Windfields | 1:51.60 |
| 1987 | Afleet | Gary Stahlbaum | Phil England | Richard R. Kennedy | 1:50.20 |
* In 2005 Dance with Ravens won the race but for the first time ever in the history of the Plate Trial, the winner was disqualified.
* In 1991 there was a dead heat for first.

## Earlier notable winners

* Overskate (1978)
* Norcliffe (1976)
* Royal Chocolate (1973)
* Kennedy Road (1971)
* Merger (1968)
* Titled Hero (1966)
* Canebora (1963)
* Lyford Cay (1957)
* Ace Marine (1955)