Telekinesis takes Tapeta test

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – How good is Telekinesis, and will he excel over the quirky Tapeta surface at Woodbine? Those questions should be answered when the Queen’s Plate winterbook favorite drops in class to face Canadian-bred 3-year-olds in Saturday’s $125,000 Plate Trial Stakes.

Telekinesis has started three times, all on dirt, a light campaign that began when he graduated on debut in a fast maiden special weight sprint at Fair Grounds on Feb. 9. He subsequently finished third against older allowance opposition there in March and is coming off a head loss in the Grade 3 Lexington at Keeneland to My Boy Jack, who subsequently ran fifth in the Kentucky Derby.

Trainer Mark Casse said the Preakness was under consideration for Telekinesis, but owner Stonestreet Stables also had Good Magic for the second leg of the Triple Crown and opted to run that horse instead.

Telekinesis is by Ghostzapper, who sired two of the last three Queen’s Plate winners, Shaman Ghost and Holy Helena. He worked a half-mile in a rapid 45.40 seconds here June 1 under Patrick Husbands.

“We weren’t sure how he would get over the synthetic,” Casse said. “You would think with his pedigree, he would. I thought his work was kind of remarkable, that he went as fast as he did, when you consider that Patrick shut him down at the top of the lane. I don’t know how fast he would have went if he let him run.”

The nine-furlong Plate Trial is the supporting feature on the 12-race Woodbine Oaks card, which also has an overnight turf-sprint stakes for 3-year-old fillies, the $100,000 Alywow.

KEY CONTENDERS

Telekinesis, by Ghostzapper Beyers: 90-87-90

◗ His June 1 breeze on Tapeta in company was the fastest of 58 at the distance that morning.

“He did it pretty easy,” Husbands said.

Silent Sting, by Silent Name Last 3 Beyers: 75-68-69

◗ The Stronach Stable runner won his last two outings, both in restricted stakes company, and is stretching out for his second race off a winter break.

“He’s been doing good,” said trainer Sid Attard. “You can do what you want with him.”

Scrapper, by Orb Last 3 Beyers: 80-80-55

◗ The Saratoga shipper brings solid grass form to his first start on synthetics. His trainer, Todd Pletcher, has won the Plate Trial twice, most recently with We Miss Artie in 2014.

Rose’s Vision, by Artie Schiller Last 3 Beyers: 71-80-80

◗ The turf expert is coming off a flat sixth-place finish in the Grade 3 Marine on the Tapeta.

“He really didn’t run the way we wanted him to run last time, and we weren’t able to get a good gauge on him,” said Robert Landry, owner Chiefswood Stable’s general manager. “He had a tremendous work the other day with Gary Boulanger.”

Aheadbyacentury, by Midnight Lute Last 3 Beyers: 74-66-69

◗ Last year’s Coronation Futurity victor is shedding blinkers off a belated third on a speedfavoring track in the Marine.