Horse racing Results: Woodbine and Saratoga, August 15

Luster wins the King's Plate at Woodbine. (Photo by Michael Burns Photo)

Welcome to the conclusion of weekend racing. Our team traveled to Toronto for Saturday's King's Plate Day at Woodbine. Along with the King's Plate Stakes, Saratoga hosted the Christophe Clemente Turf, ushering in real Breeders' Cup implications. Here is everything you need to know about horse racing results from the weekend.

INDEX

King's Plate Stakes

Christophe Clement Turf

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Woodbine

KING'S PLATE S.

Winner: Luster | Jockey: John Velazquez | Trainer: Josie Carroll

Favored at 1-5, Luster made her move on the far turn and blitzed rivals through the stretch in Saturday’s C$1,002,000 million King’s Plate at Woodbine, drawing off to a 7 1/4-length victory in the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown. John Velaquez piloted his second King’s Plate winner, and trainer Josie Carroll earned her fourth victory.

The gray filly is campaigned by Gainesway Stable and Andrew Rosen. A 5 1/2-length winner of the Woodbine Oaks in her previous outing, Luster continued to dominate while improving to 5-for-6 in her career, and she became the 40th filly to win the prestigious Canadian three-year-old fixture in its 167th running.

By Knicks Go, Luster completed 1 1/4 miles in 2:01 over the Tapeta track. She’s won two of her last three starts on synthetics, including the Selene (G3) two starts previously in late June, and Luster opened her racing career with a pair of convincing turf wins, breaking her maiden at Woodbine last year and winning an entry-level allowance at Keeneland in April.

Connections will have the option to pursue the Canadian Triple Crown, with the Prince of the Wales on dirt at Fort Erie on Sept. 7 and the Breeders’ S. on turf at Woodbine on Sept. 27. Or they could target major turf races in the United States, including the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) at Keeneland for three-year-old fillies on Oct. 10.

Luster saved ground a few lengths off the pace as 61-1 outsider Fire and Wine showed the way on a clear lead. Velazquez angled her a few paths out rounding the far turn and Luster powered her way to the front while turning for home, quickly drawing clear with little encouragement from the rider. And she rolled home masterfully while being geared down late.

Military Time, third in the Plate Trial in mid-July, made a move on the far turn to challenge before being dusted in the stretch, but he easily held second at 22-1, three lengths better than Fire and Wine. It was another neck to Woodbine Oaks runner-up Dixie Law in fourth, and Don Ique, Bond Market, Imyourmedicineman, Brachetto, Highwaytothemoon, Baaeed Alynna, Magical Factor, and Very Special completed the order.

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Luster wins the King's Plate at Woodbine. (Photo by Michael Burns Photo)

Luster wins the King's Plate at Woodbine. (Photo by Michael Burns Photo

Josie Carroll with the King’s Plate trophy at Woodbine (Photo by Michael Burns Photo)

Saratoga

Christophe Clement Turf Stakes

Winner: Survie | Jockey: Manuel Franco | Trainer: George Boughey

British-based mare Survie achieved her main aim of a Grade 1 laurel, and the added perk of a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1), with a superb last-to-first burst in Saturday’s $750,000 Christophe Clement Turf (G1) at Saratoga.

In a poignant twist, Survie was initially trained in France by Nicolas Clement, the brother of the late Christophe, in whose honor the race was renamed this year. Only one other female has won this 1 1/2-mile turf feature, Anka Germania (1988), in its former incarnation as the Sword Dancer.

Survie minded neither the change in conditions nor the change of rider. Although she lost her Glens Falls pilot, Flavien Prat, to the Chad Brown-trained Program Trading, in the Clement Turf, she picked up the hot-riding Manny Franco. He adhered to Boughey’s instructions to ride her as Prat did – unhurried early and relying on her acceleration late – and Survie delivered.

The Clement Turf pace ended up being as glacial as the Glens Falls. Ole Crazy Bone loped through fractions of :26.24, :52.56, and 1:18.98. Minaret Station attended him, and the tempo began to lift passing the mile in 1:43.92.

Rounding the final turn, Minaret Station accosted Ole Crazy Bone, and the stalking Program Trading ranged up to challenge at the top of the lane. As Ole Crazy Bone faded, Minaret Station and Program Trading appeared to have the battle to themselves.

Then Survie, who still had the entire field in front of her in midstretch, came swooping down the outside to outkick them all. Along in time by three-quarters of a length, the daughter of Churchill clocked 2:31.55 and returned $10.96.