Curling Curlinate drops out of Queen’s Plate due to injury

TORONTO – Curling Curlinate won’t run in the $1-million Queen’s Plate due to injury.

The Mark Casse-trained horse was hurt during a training session. The undisclosed injury is not considered career-threatening but it will prevent him from racing Sunday at Woodbine Racetrack.

Conquest Curlinate was generally regarded as one of they Plate favourites. The news of his withdrawal came shortly before the race draw Thursday morning.

It’s a second major blow for Casse in recent weeks. Last month, prized horse Danzig Moon was euthanized after breaking his hind leg during the $150,000 Plate Trial.

Danzig Moon was the Plate Trial favourite and stood second at the time of the incident. Had he won the Trial, Danzig Moo would have been installed as the Plate favourite.

Casse, who earned his first Plate win last year with filly Lexie Lou, will have two horses in Sunday’s race. Conquest Boogaloo is an early 8-1 pick while Oakton is a 20-1 longshot.

Danish Dynaformer, trained by eight-time Plate winner Roger Attfield, is the early 3-1 favourite.