Shaman Ghost tops Danish Dynaformer to win 156th Queen's Plate

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Toronto, ON (SportsNetwork.com) - Shaman Ghost got the best of his co-favorite Danish Dynaformer to win Sunday's $1 million Queen's Plate at Woodbine Racetrack.

The 1 1/4-mile Queen's Plate is Canada's most prestigious thoroughbred race and begins the Canadian Triple Crown, which also includes the Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie and Breeders' Stakes at Woodbine.

Shaman Ghost and Danish Dynaformer both went off as 3-1 co-favorites in the 13-horse field of Canadian-bred 3-year-olds.

Shaman Ghost, ridden by Rafael Hernandez from the inside post, and Danish Dynaformer, with jockey Patrick Husbands, were both racing off the pace being set by Sweet Grass Creek.

The co-favorites began to advance on the far turn and reached contention entering the stretch. Shaman Ghost and Danish Dynaformer fought down the stretch until Shaman Ghost edged to the lead.

Shaman Ghost posted a 1 1/4-length victory over Danish Dynaformer with Conquest Boogaloo third and Billy's Star fourth. Rounding out the order of finish were Breaking Lucky, Oakton, Ault, Ami's Flatter, Easy Indygo, Bear At Last, Portree, Sweet Grass Creek and Academic. Milwaukee Mist was an early scratch.

The time for the Queen's Plate was 2:03.42 on Woodbine's synthetic main track.

Trained by Brian Lynch for Stronach Stables, Shaman Ghost earned $600,000 while winning his fourth straight race. The colt has won four of seven career starts and $734,431. He was coming off a victory in Woodbine's Marine Stakes on May 16 in which Danish Dynaformer finished third before winning the Plate Trial.

Owner Frank Stronach previously won the Queen's Plate with Basqueian (1994) and Awesome Again (1997). This is the first Queen's Plate victory for both trainer and jockey.

Shaman Ghost returned $8.60, $5.00 and $3.20. Danish Dynaformer paid $4.30 and $3.00, and Conquest Boogaloo paid $3.90 to show.