Filly Wonder Gadot beats the heat, field to win $1-million Queen’s Plate
TORONTO — Filly Wonder Gadot beat the heat and her frustrating streak of second-place finishes Saturday.
John Velazquez rode the 2/1 favourite to an impressive 4 3/4-length victory in the $1-million Queen’s Plate on Woodbine Racetrack’s Tapeta course. The 1 1/4-mile first jewel of Canada’s Triple Crown was run in 35 C temperatures, which felt more like a sweltering 47 C with the humidex.
But Wonder Gadot, wearing blinkers for the first time following consecutive runner-up finishes, proved to be one cool customer. Velazquez rallied her from fourth after three-quarters of a mile past leader Telekinesis and from there she breezed to victory in 2:02.26.
“Gary (owner Gary Barber) asked me if this (heat) would affect her,” trainer Mark Casse said after capturing his second Plate victory. “I said it would help her because it’s going to affect others, it’s not going to affect her.