The Lead:
Canada's most prestigious day of racing returns Saturday to Woodbine with the $1 million King's Plate putting the nation's native 3-year-olds on center stage for the 167th time. A field of 12 stuffs the entries for Race 10 of 12 on a program that features 6 stakes. First post is 12:30 pm ET.

Horseplayers at Xpressbet be sure to check out the $3,000 Exacta-Thon on the Woodbine card as well as a $10 money-back special on win bets in the King's Plate if your selection finishes second or third. Tournament players can take part in the $1,000 Woodbine King's Plate Challenge handicapping contest.

​​Field Depth:
Grade 3 winners LUSTER, BRACHETTO and DIXIE LAW have the field's signature victories. HIGHWAYTOTHEMOON is a multiple stakes winner.
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Pace:
Over 1-1/4 miles on Tapeta, stamina may play a bigger role than brilliance. HIGHWAYTOTHEMOON and MAGICAL FACTOR appear most inclined to lead early, while IMYOURMEDICINEMAN has shown some early interest on occasion if asked to get into the mix. LUSTER won't be far off it from the rail. The pace looks average for a race of this distnace.

Our Eyes:
Here are my horse-by-horse notes.

1-LUSTER: The even-money favorite looks to continue a successful run of fillies in the Plate, having won it 39 times previous. 3-time Plate winner Josie Carroll has seen 5 of her last 11 starters in this race finish in the exacta. Plenty fit with 3 starts at the meeting so only worked once since dominant Woodbine Oaks tally. The concern is 10F as her pedigree leans shorter and her BRIS late pace figure of just 80 in the 9F Oaks hints that her distance limit is near. Still, the one to beat.

2-FIRE AND WINE: Overmatched at prices in the key main preps, the Marine and Plate Trial, and hasn't gotten back to strong juvenile performances.

3-BAAEED ALYNNA: Lightly raced June 29 maiden breaker didn't show enough in middling Plate Trial effort to suggest success and loses rider Pietro Moran to another rival. Trainer Kevin Attard has won this race 3 of the last 4 years, but brings a weaker hand to this year's event.

4-IMYOURMEDICINEMAN: Plate Trial runner-up at 29-1 is 1-for-7 and has lost 5 straight. Veteran Luis Contreras has struggled at the meet but won this in 2011 and 2017. Exotics consideration under.

5-DIXIE LAW: 3-time local stakes winner captured last year's G3 Mazarine but hasn't had an answer for Luster in the G3 Selene or Woodbine Oaks in her last 2 starts. She didn't match her rival late in the Oaks but has run 3 different route BRIS late pace figures that were considerably faster than Luster's Oaks and perhaps can get back to that under last year's Plate-winning rider Pietro Moran.

6-DON IQUE: Sneaky selection for me at 30-1 morning line. Late-running fifth in the Plate Trial after falling much farther back than in any previous start. Galloped out exceptionally well that day and damsire has an average winning distance of 10.5 furlongs, literally a half-mile farther than many of these rivals. Fired a 91 BRIS late pace figure when winning an allowance in May upon arriving in the barn of 3-time Plate-winning trainer Josie Carroll. The 'other' Josie here offers a much bigger price than Luster. Emma-Jayne Wilson won the 2007 Plate, so experience abounds.

7-MAGICAL FACTOR: High-percentage trainer Rachel Halden wintered this gelding in Florida, broke his maiden on turf at Keeneland in April and punched his Plate ticket with a strong second in the G3 Marine. But he's yet to run beyond 1-1/16 miles and he leaves some pedigree questions for the trip. Not without a chance, but prefer others as 9 of the last 12 Plate winners prepped at 9F.

8-HIGHWAYTOTHEMOON: Plate Trial and Queenston Stakes winner this season is the most credentialed male in the lineup and has been nearly flawless on the Tapeta (6: 4-1-1). Outlasted the Plate Trial cast after 6 prior sprints and 72 BRIS late pace figure won't scare the competition with another furlong added. Jockey Rafael Hernandez's 3 Plate winners - Shaman Ghost, Moira and Caitlhergrtness - were all super-classy individuals. Will be in confident hands.

9-BRACHETTO: 18-1 upsetter of the G3 Marine Stakes had not been around 2 turns in 4 prior starts. Son of Vekoma gets stamina from damsire Include and now extends the trip another 330 yards while adding 8 additional pounds while coming off a 7-week break. Ryan Munger knows him well, riding in every start for trainer Julia Carey, who is having an excellent Woodbine meet. Mixed vibes.

10-VERY SPECIAL: Maiden has yet to face winners in 3 starts, but exits a very live heat against open-company runners. Trainer Kevin Attard has won 3 of the last 4 editions of the King's Plate and this Stronach home-bred doesn't lack classic genes. He's by US Horse of the Year and Breeders' Cup Classic winner Ghostzapper and out of an unraced half-sister to Kentucky Derby and Travers winner Street Sense. Distance won't be an issue but 71 and 72 BRIS late pace figures have to be improved upon. Not impossible for a piece.

11-BOND MARKET: Most lightly raced Plate entrant scored a turf mile debut win July 5 at Woodbine for the small Carlos Grant stable, 1 of 2 wins on the year. At 45-1 odds no less. Absolutely no shortage of distance pedigree but is being asked a lot on the class and distance rise (plus adding 8 pounds) with such a limited resume. Slow pace aided his field-best 92 BRIS late pace figure last out, but he gets some of that credit, too.

12-MILITARY TIME: Consistent Tapeta performer for 3-time Plate winner Mark Casse, but he's dropped no less than 4 different decisions to members of this year field - DIXIE LAW, FIRE AND WINE and twice to HIGHWAYTOTHEMOON. Blinkers added to the son of Gun Runner hoping to get him over the top. Equipment changes in big races (particularly at 1-1/4 miles when distance is a question) can be a scary proposition. Can't say no completely, but others feel stronger and/or better value.

Most Likely Exotics Contender:
LUSTER has just 1 misstep in her 5-race career and continues to improve.

Best Longshot Contender:
DON IQUE could be among the most-fond in the field of the 10-furlong trip.
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Sending it in ($100 bankroll):
$50 win DON IQUE. $24 exacta LUSTER over DON IQUE. $10 exacta DON IQUE over LUSTER. $2 exacta key-box DON IQUE with DIXIE LAW, HIGHWAYTOTHEMOON, VERY SPECIAL and MILITARY TIME ($16).