Aug 17, 2024 – On the opener on the day of the running of the 165th King’s Plate which would later be cancelled due to heavy rain, Canuck Racing Club’s North Warden contributed absolutely no calm before the storm as he convincingly won an exciting first race in the undercard. Favoured among the eight three-year-old thoroughbreds going into the race, experts envisioned a showdown between Canuck Racing Club’s #8 and #7 Legs Like Gizmo who came into this race with a strategy of quickly getting to the lead and playing catch me if you can.
With storms approaching, North Warden broke from the gate well under 19-year-old jockey Pietro Moran. The pair were content to stalk outside but always within range as they watched Legs Like Gizmo set the pace in the early going. While the latter dictated terms on the lead throughout most of the race, North Warden moved in to bid three wide outside in the upper stretch, shrugged off #3 Demba and caught Legs Like Gizmo in the upper stretch. In the sprint to the finish, Legs Like Gizmo had no more resistance to offer when North Warden answered Pietro Moran’s request for more. Meanwhile, #4 Monday Morning, who had been travelling outside down the backside, closed well and posed the only other real threat. He determinedly chased North Warden down the stretch but could only catch second place after the gelding by Exaggerator bore down in the final furlong to extend his lead by almost three lengths for a convincing win. He is now 1-1-0 in three career starts.