Thirteen hopefuls chase King’s Plate crown
At 0h02, on August 13, 2025 • By Chris Lomon, Woodbine
Thirteen sophomores, including the lone filly No Time, will contest the $1 million King’s Plate — the first leg of the OLG Canadian Triple Crown — which headlines a stellar stakes-laden Saturday card of racing at Woodbine.
The 166th edition of The King’s Plate, North America’s oldest continually run race, contested at 1 ¼ miles on the Woodbine main track, is the first event in the tri-surface series for Canadian-bred 3-year-olds.
Wando, bred and owned by the late Gustav Schickedanz, was the last horse to accomplish the feat, in 2003, while becoming the seventh to record the unique triple. The $400,000 Prince of Wales, run at 1 3/16 miles on the dirt at Fort Erie on September 9, is the second leg. The $400,000 Breeders’ Stakes, at 1 ½ miles over the inner turf at Woodbine on September 28, concludes the series.
This year’s edition of The King’s Plate once again showcases a mix of stakes winners and underdogs, along with prominent owners, breeders, trainers, and jockeys. No Time will carry 121 pounds, while all other starters carry 126 pounds.
No Time arrives at the Plate off an outstanding win in the Woodbine Oaks Presented by Stella Artois on July 20.
To be ridden again by John Velazquez, the daughter of Not This Time out of the Red Ransom mare Count to Three is 3-0-1 from eight starts for owner Gary Barber and trainer Mark Casse – the jockey, owner and trainer won the 2018 Plate with filly Wonder Gadot
Bred by James Everatt, Janeane Everatt & Arika Everatt-Meeuse, No Time won her second start, a one-length triumph at 1 1/16 miles over the E.P. Taylor turf, on September 14, 2024.
“She has a heck of a pedigree,” Casse noted. “She’s by one of the best sires in the world and she’s a half-sister to two Grade 1 winners. She has the pedigree to be any kind. I feel like she really has grown up and has gotten stronger and better as time goes on, which happens a lot of times when you have these great pedigrees.”
A bay son of Karakontie (JPN) out of the Distorted Humor mare Certainly Special, Ashley’s Archer is one of two (filly No Time is the other) Mark Casse trainees in this year’s Plate.
The bay colt, 1-2-1 from seven starts, will contest his third stakes event when he goes into the gate for the Plate. He finished first, but was placed fifth, in last year’s Cup and Saucer, and third, one month later, in the Coronation Futurity.
“We got [Ashley’s Archer] in Ocala, and he always impressed me,” said Casse, a three-time winner of the Plate. “He always worked well. I think he’s a nice horse. I don’t think you’ve seen his best yet.”
Ashley’s Archer is co-owned by Gary Barber and Archer Racing.
Archer Racing is owned by Jayson Horner and his daughter Courtney. Horner raced Ashely’s Archer’s half-brother Coltimus Prime who won the 2014 Prince of Wales Stakes.
Sahin Civaci, Canada’s champion rider in 2024, gets the call.
Saturday’s card also features a quintet of stakes: the (G1T) $750,000 E.P. Taylor Stakes (Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series “Win and You’re In,” fillies & mares, 3-year-olds & up, 1 ¼ miles), $200,000 bet365 King Edward (G2T) (one mile on the E.P. Taylor turf for 3-year-olds and up), (G3) $150,000 Bold Venture Stakes (6 ½ furlongs on the main track for 3-year-olds and up), $150,000 bet365 Soaring Free (6 ½ furlongs on the E.P. Taylor turf for 2-year-olds) and the $150,000 Catch a Glimpse (6 ½ furlongs on the E.P. Taylor turf for 2-year-old fillies).
First post for Saturday is 12:45 p.m. (ET), with the featured King’s Plate scheduled as Race 9 (5:34 p.m. ET). The national Plate broadcast will be televised on Sportsnet ONE and Citytv from 4-6 p.m. ET.
