{"id":3337,"date":"2020-08-15T17:46:01","date_gmt":"2020-08-15T21:46:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uat.woodbine.com\/queensplate\/clayton-connects-plate-trial-drama-sets-the-table-for-queens-plate\/"},"modified":"2020-08-15T17:46:01","modified_gmt":"2020-08-15T21:46:01","slug":"clayton-connects-plate-trial-drama-sets-the-table-for-queens-plate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uat.woodbine.com\/kingsplate\/2020\/08\/15\/clayton-connects-plate-trial-drama-sets-the-table-for-queens-plate\/","title":{"rendered":"Clayton connects: Plate Trial drama sets the table for Queen\u2019s Plate"},"content":{"rendered":"

TORONTO, August 15, 2020 \u2013 Clayton, a son of 2012 Arkansas Derby winner Bodemeister, dug deep to fend off a pair of stubborn foes in taking the $150,000 Plate Trial Stakes, Saturday afternoon at Woodbine.<\/p>\n

The road to the Queen\u2019s Plate \u2013 set for Saturday, September 12 \u2013 is heating up.<\/p>\n

A field of six Canadian-foaled three-year-olds took to the Toronto oval Tapeta in the 1 1\/8-mile Plate Trial, the traditional prep for the first leg of the OLG Canadian Triple Crown.<\/p>\n

The race didn\u2019t disappoint.<\/p>\n

Dotted Line, one of three (Elusive Knight and Northern Thunder were the others) Sid Attard trainees, assumed command early, joined to the outside by Queenston and Coronation Futurity Stakes champ Halo Again. Clayton, the 3-5 choice, tracked along in tandem with outsider Glorious Tribute.<\/p>\n

Justin Stein had Dotted Line a half-length in front of Halo Again after a half-mile reached in :49.31, as Clayton and Glorious Tribute continued to rate just off the pacesetting pair.<\/p>\n

As the field made its way into the final turn, Rafael Hernandez, aboard Clayton, asked the Kevin Attard trainee for his best run as the front-runners braced for the challenge to his inside.<\/p>\n

Mid-way down the stretch, it appeared Clayton would power past his rivals, but both Dotted Line and Halo Again refused to give up the fight.<\/p>\n

At the wire, Clayton, owned by Donato Lanni and Daniel Plouffe, was a half-length the best, while Halo Again outdueled Dotted Line by a head for the runner-up spot. Glorious Tribute, Elusive Knight and Northern Thunder rounded out the finish.<\/p>\n

The final time was 1:50.61.<\/p>\n

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Clayton and jockey Rafael Hernandez winning the $150,000 Plate Trial Stakes on Saturday, Aug. 15 at Woodbine Racetrack. (Michael Burns Photo)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cHe loomed up like he was going to kind of kick on like he did in his last race and obviously they kind of kicked on with him and made it a good fight to the finish,\u201d said Attard, in search of his first Queen\u2019s Plate crown. \u201cSo, we’ll kind of watch the replay, see how he comes out of this race and take it from there… see if there’s any adjustments that need to be made. Obviously, this is just kind of one step in the right direction, but I don’t want to be remembered as the Plate Trial winner.”<\/p>\n

It was the third win \u2013 accompanied by one second \u2013 in four starts for the colt bred by Bernard and Karen McCormack. The Plate Trial represented Clayton\u2019s first stakes engagement.<\/p>\n

“Thank God and thank Kevin and the owners for the opportunity to ride the horse,\u201d said Hernandez. \u201cI thought it was going to be more easy. There was a little trouble early in the race; I tried to settle down the horse, he just wanted to go. After the two horses got in front, he dropped the bridle and settled down and I was more confident in the backside about him.”<\/p>\n

Next up, a date in the $1 million Queen\u2019s\u00a0Plate, North America\u2019s oldest continually run stakes race.<\/p>\n

“Obviously, everybody dreams of running in the Plate and sometimes you’re taking just a hope and a prayer to kind of go in there and hope the stars align for you,\u201d said Attard. \u201cObviously, this situation’s a little different, we’re going in with one of the favourites and we know we’ve kind of got a good shot to maybe take it all, but there’s going to be more shooters coming and it’s not going to be easy.”<\/p>\n

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Clayton and jockey Rafael Hernandez winning the $150,000 Plate Trial Stakes on Saturday, Aug. 15 at Woodbine Racetrack. (Michael Burns Photo)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Fans can track the Queen\u2019s Plate Power Rankings on\u00a0queensplate.com<\/a>, the official website of the race, and on Woodbine Entertainment\u2019s social media platforms via @WoodbineTB.<\/p>\n

Clayton returned $3.30, $2.10 and $2.10, combining with Halo Again ($3, $2.40) for an $8.70 exactor. Dotted Line ($2.50) completed a 3-4-2 triactor that paid $27.10. Glorious Tribute (1) rounded out a $1 superfecta worth $61.65.<\/p>\n