Daisuke Fukumoto and Mighty Heart ran away with the $1-million Queen's Plate on Saturday. Fukumoto took his one-eyed mount to the lead from the start, then surged to a stunning 7 1/2-length victory in the opening leg of the OLG Canadian Triple Crown at Woodbine Racetrack. Mighty Heart, a 13/1 longshot, lost an eye in a paddock accident with his mother as a foal.
His winning time of 2:01.98 was the second-fastest since 1957 when the Plate was first run at the new Woodbine at its current distance. That effort was second only to Izvestia (2:01 4/5 in 1990).
But Fukumoto, who hit the winner's circle in his first-ever appearance in this race, said going to the lead from the start wasn't his original plan.
"He was very sharp so I just let him go," Fukumoto said. " I tried to calm (him) a little bit but after the wire he kept going, he didn't stop there.
"He knew [it was] a big race, that's why he was sharp. I am lucky. He only has one eye but he's got a big heart, a mighty heart."
Fukumoto secured trainer Josie Carroll a third career Queen's Plate win. Carroll also took second with Belichick, who finished ahead of Plate Trial winner Clayton, the 3/1 second choice.
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