Husbands wins Queen's Plate

TORONTO, Canada (CMC):

Barbadian jockey Patrick Husbands unveiled a brilliant ride aboard 3-1 chance Lexie Lou to capture the 155th running of the prestigious CAN$1 million Queen's Plate at Woodbine here Sunday.

Husbands raced the three-year-old bay filly off the pace set by Asserting Bear in the mile and a quarter event for three-year-olds before making his move late on the back stretch, powering to the front with a sixteenth to run, and reaching the wire by 1-1/2 lengths in a time of two minutes, 3.94 seconds.

The Queen's Plate triumph was the second for Husbands following his maiden win with the amazing Wando in 2003 - the same year he completed the cherished Triple Crown.

For celebrated trainer Mark Casse, it was his first ever Queen's Plate win.

Sunday's success marked Husbands's third stakes victory in six days following his wins last Tuesday in the CAN$155,000 Dominion Day Stakes and CAN$115,000 Sweet Briar Too Stakes. He has now won nine added-money races this season and sits on top the money earnings with CAN$3.38 million.

"Everybody left there (the gate) running. My filly was so relaxed. I had so much confidence in her going into this race. I begged Mark at the [post position] draw, I just want the outside," Husbands said afterwards.

"It's an honour and a pleasure to ride for these connections, and Mark, I won the Queen's Plate for you," Husbands added.