Luster installed as early even money favourite for $1-million King’s Plate

TORONTO – Luster will have history on her side Saturday when she attempts to give trainer Josie Carroll a timely anniversary gift.

The heralded filly was installed as the even-money favourite for the $1-million King’s Plate. But the Woodbine Oaks champion had the last selection of Tuesday’s draw and was left with the rail after the other 11 connections made their picks for the opening jewel of the OLG Canadian Triple Crown.

Last year, though, Pietro Moran guided Mansetti to a Plate victory from the rail. And 20 years ago, Edenwold earned Hall of Famer Carroll the first of her three Plate victories from the No. 1 post.

“Shortest way around,” Carroll said. “She (Luster) is just a horse that wants to win.

“She just throws it all out on the line every time. She’s tired for three days after she runs, she just gives you everything she has.”

Moran will pursue a second straight Plate win, riding Oaks runner-up Dixie Law (10-1 odds) on Saturday.

While it’s not impossible to win from the rail, it’s certainly difficult. There’s a danger at the start of horse and rider getting boxed in as much of the field looks to move to the inside and save ground approaching the first turn.

For horses on the rail, it’s a mad dash to the first turn to escape traffic. But there’s also the risk of having to expend too much energy to do so, leaving precious little for the end of the mile-and-a-quarter race.

John Velazquez will again be aboard Luster. Thoroughbred racing’s top money-earning jockey rode Luster to an emphatic 5 1/2-length Oaks victory July 19 at Woodbine.

Luster’s winning time in the 1 1/8-mile race was 1:50.99. Moments earlier, Highwaytothemoon came on late to claim the $200,000 Plate Trial, also over 1 1/8 miles on Woodbine’s Tapeta track, in 1:52.17.

“What I liked was the way she finished up,” Carroll said of Luster’s Oaks win. “She didn’t take as much out of herself as I was concerned she would, that race being this close to the Plate.

“The last race was pretty easy for her, she didn’t have to reach down. On Plate day, she’s going to have to reach down and we’ll see what she’s made of.”

Brachetto, the 5-1 early second pick, will start from the No. 9 post while Highwaytothemoon, the 6-1 third selection, drew the No. 8 post. Jockey Rafael Hernandez will ride the Plate Trial winner, chasing a record-tying fourth Plate victory.

Luster has never finished out of the money to date in her racing career, amassing four wins and a third-place finish in five starts. She has three wins and the third-place effort in four races in 2026.

Carroll will have two horses in Saturday’s race. Don Ique, a three-year-old grey/roan, will run for a third career win and second this year with Plate-winning jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson aboard the 30-1 pick that was fifth in the Plate Trial.

“Truthfully, that was the decisive race for me,” Carroll said. “When he finished like that and galloped out the way he did, he certainly indicated he’ll get a mile and a quarter.

“That bit of extra distance is what separates them.”

The field with post position, horse, rider and odds includes: 1) Luster, Velazquez, 1-1; 2) Fire and Wine, Jalon Samuel, 30-1; 3) Baaeed Alynna, Sahin Civaci, 30-1; 4) Imyourmedicineman, Luis Contreras, 20-1; 5) Dixie Law, Moran, 10-1; 6) Don Ique, Wilson, 30-1; 7) Magical Factor, Jose Campos, 10-1; 8) Highwaytothemoon, Hernandez, 6-1; 9) Brachetto, Ryan Munger, 5-1; 10) Very Special, Romero Ramsay Maragh, 30-1; 11) Bond Market, Xarel Forde, 30-1; and 12) Military Time, Fraser Aebly, 12-1.

Trainer Kevin Attard will send two horses postward as he looks to earn a second straight Plate title and fourth in five years. But both Baaeed Alynna and Very Special are decided longshots, with Baaeed Alynna having just one career victory while Very Special has a second and two thirds from three lifetime starts.

And in the Plate Trial, Very Special had an incident in the starter’s gate and was eventually ruled a late veterinary scratch.

“He acted up,” Attard said. “He’s a young horse.

“It was unfortunate but things happen for a reason.”

Maragh, in his first season at Woodbine, remains bullish on Very Special.

“I think there’s a lot more to him,” Maragh said. “I think he’ll really appreciate the mile and a quarter and I think every race he improves.

“I know this is the race that’s the creme de la creme for Canadian horse racing so it really means a lot. I’m really excited to be part of it.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 11, 2026.