Shaman Ghost streaks to Queen’s Plate victory

In America we have the Kentucky Derby. For our neighbor to the north, it’s all about the Queen's Plate. The most prestigious race in Canada, today’s running marked the 156th edition of the historic event. Shaman Ghost may not be ready to live up to the massive accomplishments this spring of American Pharoah, but Canada has a very good three-year-old in their own right. Today in a front of a large crowd at Woodbine, he thrilled the fans with a strong rally that carried him to his fourth straight victory, and more importantly a popular win in the Queen’s Plate.

Going in, the biggest threat to stopping the streaking Shaman Ghost, came in the form of legendary Canadian conditioner Roger Attfield, who was in search of breaking the tie for all-time victories in the Queen’s Plate with a win this afternoon. The 75-year-old Hall of Fame trainer had previously won eight editions, beginning with Norcliffe in 1976, and came in with a strong hand for today’s affair with the race favorite, Danish Dynaformer, as well as the interesting long shot, Billy's Star. Both would run their race, but in the end, there was no stopping the Ghost.

Sent off as the 3-1 second choice in the large field of 13 Canadian foaled three-year-olds, Shaman Ghost broke from the inside post under Rafael Hernandez, and quickly settled into the back half of the field. Any chance that the Reade Baker saddled filly, Academic, would become the second straight female to sweep the Woodbine Oaks and Queen’s Plate, accomplished by Lexie Lou in 2014, was quickly compromised by extremely quick fractions set by her and long shot Sweet Grass Creek. As those two set an early pace considerably too fast for the ten furlong trip, many of the main contenders bided their time well back early.

The first to make a run at the leaders was Billy’s Star. The 15-1 shot made a big run in the backstretch to quickly take the lead from the tiring Sweet Grass Creek on the far turn. The lead would not last long, though, as the other contenders began to bear down on him. First it was his stablemate, and 3-1 favorite, Danish Dynaformer who came, and that one looked like he a winner, as he took over the lead in mid-stretch.

Once again the move to the lead proved premature, as the Brian Lynch trained Shaman Ghost was now in full flight and coming fast on the outside. Danish Dynaformer was game, but Shaman Ghost’s late momentum proved irresistable. The son of Ghostzapper powered away late to record the 1 ¼-length score. Conquest Boogaloo finished fast to go by Billy’s Star late for third.

Final time for the 1 ¼ miles over Woodbine’s synthetic surface was 2:03.45. A $2 win bet on Shaman Ghost returned $8.60, while the exacta over Danish Dynaformer returned $28.30.

The winning trainer, who was second in the 2008 Queen's Plate with Stronach’s filly Ginger Brew, appreciated the ride by Hernandez, “We’ll certainly have a good night," said Lynch. "It’s a prestigious race. But to win it for the Stronachs (it’s great). I thought it was a great ride, very patient. I thought a few jocks panicked at the quarter-pole, but you can see him (Hernandez) sort of sitting. We had the best horse on the day. I could just see Rafael’s red cap moving forward, moving forward, trying to get himself in a good position. I knew this horse would have some finish to him and I knew I had the right rider. He is very patient and would give this horse a fabulous ride.”

A Stronach Stables/Adena Springs homebred, Shaman Ghost raised his lifetime record to 7-4-0-0, with earnings of better than $600,000. His four race winning streak started in March with a maiden special weight win at Gulfstream Park, followed by an allowance victory at Keeneland. In his most recent effort, he became a stakes winner by winning the Grade 3 Marine Stakes. In that event, he also got the best of his now familiar opponent, Danish Dynaformer at Woodbine.

If Shaman Ghost wants to become Canada’s first Triple Crown winner since Wando turned the trick back in 2003, he will need to keep the winning streak going at Fort Erie in the Prince of Wales Stakes on July 28, with the third leg concluding back at Woodbine in the Breeders Stakes, run over 12 furlongs on the Woodbine turf course, on August 16.