Defending King’s Plate winner Pietro Moran chasing another dream ride on Dixie Law

Дата публикации: 11-08-2026 19:27:29

At just 20 years old and in his third year as a jockey, Moran won $1-million first leg of Canada’s triple crown aboard Mansetti in 2025.

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Pietro Moran admits he has watched last year’s King’s Plate. A lot.

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“It brings back memories,” he said. “It was a special day and something I’ll never forget.”

Of course he enjoys the ending. At just 20 years of age and in his third year as a jockey, Moran won the $1-million first leg of Canada’s triple crown aboard Mansetti, already accomplishing a dream many riders in the Woodbine jockey’s room have still not achieved.

“I never imagined I would ride in a Plate so early in my career let alone win one,” he said. “It was a special moment.”

On Saturday, Moran will be setting his sights on another win in Canada’s most prestigious race when he rides Dixie Law in the 167th edition — and he’s certainly in the right form to do so.

The son of fellow Woodbine jockey David Moran, Pietro won the Eclipse Award as North America’s outstanding apprentice jockey. And while it takes some jockeys time to adjust after losing the five-pound apprentice allowance, he has been rolling right along, currently leading the Woodbine jockey standings with 65 wins.

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“Very grateful for all the opportunities I get,” he said. “I just work hard and do the best I can.”

Dixie Law also works hard. The three-year-old filly has four wins in eight career starts. The daughter of Tiz The Law beat males in the Cup and Saucer Stakes last fall then took a second added-money win in the Mazarine Stakes.

She narrowly won the Ruling Angel Stakes to start 2026 and has followed that up with a third-place run in the Selene Stakes and a second-place finish in the Woodbine Oaks.

In that most recent outing though, she briefly challenged Luster around the final turn but ended up being no match for that runner’s turn of foot, which explains why Luster is the even-money favourite for the Plate while Dixie Law is 10-1.

Trainer Dale Desruisseaux said a slight bump around the first turn in the Oaks may have taken a bit out of her, but is pleased with the filly’s development. He is also not concerned about the 1¼-mile distance.

“It’s just whether she’s going to be good enough to beat the boys and (Luster),” he said.

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OVER THE MOON

Despite being a trainer for more than a decade, Desruisseaux is dipping into the Plate waters for the first time, not only with Dixie Law but with Plate Trial Stakes winner Highwaytothemoon as well.

The trainer wasn’t so sure going into that race the three-year-old gelding would get the 1 1/8-mile trip. After all he was mainly a sprinter who had just won the seven-furlong Queenston Stakes in his most recent start. But Highwaytothemoon gave his trainer comfort by relaxing just behind the pace early, then having enough in the tank to outrun longshot Imyourmedicineman in the stretch for the win.

What made Highwaytothemoon adjust? Perhaps it’s his chill temperament, one that allows him to do what he has to do without being bothered by anything.

“That’s probably one of his better attributes.” Desruisseaux said. “I think he’ll get the extra distance on that attribute alone.”

“He’ll sit, sit, sit and relax. Nothing really fazes him.”

In 2025, Desruisseaux had a breakout season with 24 wins. This year, he has also enjoyed success with Piper’s Gift and with GT Five Hundred who won the Connaught Cup on the same card as the Oaks and Plate Trial.

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“It’s been a wild ride,” he said. “I’m thankful to the owners that I have good horses to train.”

Highwaytothemoon will again be ridden by Rafael Hernandez, who will try for his record-tying fourth Plate win. That would put him alongside Sandy Hawley, Robin Platts and Avelino Gomez in that elite club.

ANNUAL TRADITION

We say it every year: There’s a curse to winning the Coronation Futurity.

No horse winning that late-season 1 1/8-mile test for Canadian two-year-olds has gone on to win the Plate the following year since Norcliffe 50 years ago.

Now it’s Fire and Wine’s turn to try and crack that code. But the current season has not been kind to the colt who went gate-to-wire at Woodbine in November. In fact, he has been beaten by a combined 48 lengths in three starts since.

Trainer Zeljko Krcmar is still confident that should Fire and Wine find the front early in the Plate, he could be tough to run down.

“I believe he’s in the top shape of his life,” Krcmar said. “He’s sound. He’s healthy. He likes to run and he’s brave on the front.”

He also hopes the jockey who will get him to the lead early is Jalon Samuel, a native of Barbados who will be riding in his first Plate since his debut in 2018.

Samuel is the master of his country’s signature race, the Barbados Gold Cup, winning seven times including one with former King’s Plate winner Sir Dudley Digges.

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