Quartet of competitive stakes on Queen’s Plate undercard

Katie’s Eyes looks to extend her winning streak to five in the Highlander (Coady Photography)

Sunday’s C$1 million Queen’s Plate is supported by four other stakes on the
Woodbine card, three of them on the turf.

The C$200,000

Highlander (Can-G2) could have Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) implications.
Trainer Michael Stidham is already thinking along those lines with Katie’s Eyes
(Leroidesanimaux), who brings a four-race winning streak versus distaffers into
this tilt against males. Victorious in the April 11 Giant’s Causeway over the
same Keeneland course and 5 1/2-furlong trip as this year’s Turf Sprint, Katie’s
Eyes extended her skein last time in the May 9 Unbridled Sidney at Churchill.
The four-year-old filly gets in with a feathery 114-pound impost here, including
new rider Patrick Husbands.

The past two winners of the Highlander are back, defending champion Something
Extra (Indian Charlie) and Go Blue or Go Home (Bluegrass Cat), who hasn’t won
since his romp in the 2013 edition that was rained off the turf.

Something Extra, the 123-pound highweight, is in sparkling form. The Gail Cox
veteran wired the April 4 Shakertown (G3) in his reappearance, beating Channel
Marker (Purim), eventual Diamond Jubilee (Eng-G1) hero Undrafted (Purim) and
Australian import Power Alert (Alert). Something Extra didn’t confirm the form
when third to Power Alert and Undrafted in the May 1 TwinSpires Turf Sprint (G3)
and second to Channel Marker in the June 6 Jaipur (G3), but that remains a
strong profile to bring into this race.

Chad Brown sends Watsdachances to the Dance Smartly… (Jim McCue/Maryland Jockey Club)

Although it would be too simplistic to reduce the C$200,000

Dance Smartly (Can-G2) and the C$150,000

Singspiel (Can-G3) to a Mark Casse versus Chad Brown show, the two trainers
have strong hands in both races.

In the 1 1/8-mile Dance Smartly for fillies and mares, Casse is doubly
represented by last-out Nassau (Can-G2) heroine Sky Treasure (Sky Mesa) and by
Industrial Policy (Harlan’s Holiday), a troubled fifth in last year’s Dance
Smartly.

Brown, who trained Industrial Policy earlier in her career, relies on
Watsdachances (Diamond Green). Fourth in the Flower Bowl Invitational (G1) in
her 2014 finale, the ever-honest mare opened this season with a smooth success
in the May 16 Gallorette (G3) at Pimlico.

Among the others are a pair of champions in Solid Appeal (Successful Appeal)
and Habibi (Ekraar). Solid Appeal has won only once since taking the 2013 Dance
Smartly in her Sovereign Award campaign, and trainer Reade Baker has opted to
put the blinkers back on. Former New Zealand champion Habibi, who beat the boys
in her homeland’s Derby (NZ-G1) in 2013, is a fascinating contender. Beaten in
her three tries in Southern California, she missed by a nose to Smartyfly (Smart
Strike) in her first Woodbine outing, and could have still more to offer.

…and Hyper to the Singspiel (NYRA/Adam Coglianese Photography)

Hyper was in the form of his life in 2013, garnering the Bowling Green H.
(G2) and closing smartly for second in the Canadian International (his only
previous Woodbine appearance). Sidelined for nearly 18 months, the now
eight-year-old resurfaced with a commendable third in the May 9 Man o’ War (G1).
He could do no better than eighth next time in the 1 1/4-mile Manhattan H. (G1),
but the combination of a hike in distance and a drop in class should suit.

Possibly overlooked is defending champion Aldous Snow (Theatrical), who left
Dynamic Sky back in third in the 2014 Singspiel. Winless in the interim, the
Malcolm Pierce charge is nonetheless rounding into form for this third start of
the season.

The stakes action kicks off with the C$150,000

Clarendon S. for Ontario-bred juveniles at 5 1/2 furlongs. The Casse-trained
Beliveau (Where’s the Ring) is the one to beat after passing the post first in
both starts. A 5 1/4-length debut winner over the Polytrack, he switched to turf
for the Victoria and prevailed by a head, only to be disqualified for
interference.