In the latest display of equine excellence, Luster emerged victorious once again, claiming the prestigious $1 million King's Plate on Saturday with an impressive 7 1/4-length margin. This remarkable filly, heavily favored at 1-5, previously triumphed in the $750,000 Woodbine Oaks on July 19, rounding off her remarkable preparation for this race.
John Velazquez, the leading money-earning jockey in thoroughbred racing, steered Luster to her victory, marking his second King's Plate title. His first triumphant ride came in 2018 aboard the filly Wonder Gadot. Velazquez also had the privilege of riding Luster to her authoritative Oaks win.
Reflecting on his fortune, Velazquez expressed, "I've been very lucky and very blessed with the fillies. Running against the colts and coming here to Canada and winning the (Plate) for a second time." This sentiment resonates with the remarkable achievements of both jockey and filly in the Canadian horse racing scene.
Trainer Josie Carroll celebrated her fourth King's Plate victory, having previously won with Edenwold in 2006, and Inglorious in 2011. Her most recent success came with Mighty Heart in 2020. The solid teamwork between Velazquez and Carroll laid the foundation for Luster’s victorious outing.
In the 12-horse field, Military Time, ridden by Fraser Aebly, secured second place, followed by Fire and Wine and jockey Jalon Samuel. The remaining positions were filled by: Dixie Law, Don Ique, Bond Market, Imyourmedicineman, Brachetto, Highwaytothemoon, Baaeed Alynna, Magical Factor, and Very Special, completing the race's order of finish.
Despite initially having the last pick during Tuesday's draw, which left Luster in the No. 1 post position, Velazquez skillfully navigated the start. He expertly guided Luster into fourth place, positioning her behind key competitors like Fire and Wine, Very Special, and Magical Factor. As the race progressed, Velazquez opted for strategic advancement, moving Luster into second place just before the final turn.
As the horses entered the stretch, Luster took the lead with a quarter-mile to go and pulled two lengths ahead at the stretch call, clocking a finish time of 2:02.01. This result nearly matched last year’s record set by Moira at 2:01.48.
Velazquez commented on his race strategy, stating, "I didn’t want to be behind the horse that was on the lead (Fire and Wine). Once I put myself in that position, I had a horse right on my outside and I made sure I pushed him out. Coming to the quarter-pole, I asked her to go and she responded really nice." His precise handling of Luster was pivotal to her substantial win.
Interestingly, Carroll’s first Plate win was also earned by a horse starting from the rail, Edenwold. The previous year, another horse, Mansetti, also won from the No. 1 post, reinforcing the significance of that position.
Carroll shared her feelings during the race, saying, “Every moment's anxious till they cross the wire, that’s horse racing. But you know, (Luster) was in masterful hands." She praised Velazquez for his confident execution throughout the race, which instilled confidence in her as the trainer.
Part-owner Andrew Rosen revealed that Carroll was optimistic about Luster's chances leading up to the Plate, stating, "Last year, Josie told me we were going to be standing here. I think Josie knew right from the get-go, and Josie’s done an amazing job with her." This belief in the horse’s potential has culminated in a successful partnership among the connections.
With successive wins boosting her reputation, Luster is generating considerable excitement regarding the upcoming $500,000 Prince of Wales Stakes on September 7 at Fort Erie Race Track. The last horse to achieve a Triple Crown in Canada was Wando back in 2003. While Carroll refrained from discussing specific plans for Luster's future, indications suggest that she may not compete on the dirt course at Fort Erie.
Luster's recent victory brought her career record to five wins in six starts, with her only other result being a third-place finish. The winner's share of $600,000 has elevated her total earnings to exceed $1.093 million. On the day of the race, attendees faced delays due to a labor dispute between Great Canadian Casino and locked-out security officers, prompting Woodbine to implement parking contingency plans at a nearby mall.
