Queen's Plate 2017: Post Time, Post Positions, Schedule and More

The 2017 Queen's Plate will see favorite Holy Helena compete against a strong field at the Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario, on Sunday.

It's a field also featuring the Mark Casse-trained State of Honor. Meanwhile, Javier Castellano will ride Inflexibility, trained by Chad Brown.

They will all vie for shares of the $1,000,000 prize money, with $600,000 of the purse going to the winner of the first leg in the Canadian Triple Crown, per the race's official website.

Before a preview of the 158th edition of Canada's oldest race, here are the schedule details, including the post time:

Date: Sunday, July 2.

Even Start Time: 12 p.m. ET.

Post Time: 5:38 p.m. ET. 10:38 p.m. BST.

TV Info: TSN Sports

A look at the full field, along with the post positions, is provide by the Woodbine Racetrack official Twitter account:

Preview

All the attention is on Holy Helena, the favourite. She is not only chasing a notable win in Canada, Holy Helena is also in line to make history, according to the Woodbine Communications Office (h/t Horse Racing Nation): "She'll also seek to become the first filly since Lexie Lou to turn the Oaks-Plate double."

This filly won big at Belmont in April, ideal preparation for Toronto. She also rode to victory at this year's Woodbine Oaks earlier this month.

However, the latter race saw Holy Helena running in "fifth in a stalking position on the backstretch," per Ron Gierkink of Daily Racing Form. This time, she'll be in third, a position trainer Jimmy Jerkens believes could prove a disadvantage, according to Cindy Pierson Dulay's Horse-Races.net: "I'd rather be further out (than post 3). I don't think she'll be the favorite as she'll be running against the boys out of a wide post which is always tough."

Yet despite the potential problems with the third post position, the presence of  jockeyLuis Contreras, a Queen's Plate winner six years ago only strengthens Holy Helena's case.

Lynne Sladky/Associated Press

The obvious challengers to Holy Helena are colts Tiz a Slam and Channel Maker. No trainer has won more plates than Roger Attfield, the nine-time winner who has prepped Tiz a Slam, per BloodHorse.com.

The same source noted how Bill Mott will pin his hopes for a first win on Channel Maker. Mott's entrant will be on the first position at the post.

Those horses have the backing to win, but a stronger challenge may come from Inflexibility. Not only did Brown earn the most money of any trainer in North America in 2016, per Thoroughbredracing.com.

He's also prepped a horse who ran the favorite close recently, according to the same source: "Last time out, racing on Tapeta for the first time in the nine furlong Woodbine Oaks, presented by Budweiser, Inflexibility came with a late run to finish third behind probable Plate favourite Holy Helena."

Rob Carr/Getty Images

State of Honor has the strength as a front-runner to set a terrific early pace the others won't be able to match. Yet Richard Mauntah of the Toronto Sun has questioned the colt's stamina, despite the input of Casse as trainer.

In a field this strong, it's tough to fully back any perceived favorite. Holy Helena is fancied, but there are ample contenders who could produce an upset.