Popular trainer Harold Ladouceur chases King’s Plate glory with Imyourmedicineman

Trainer will be eyeing a King’s Plate win when he sends out Imyourmedicineman in Saturday’s $1-million classic at Woodbine.

Published Aug 13, 2026  •  4 minute read

Imyourmedicineman is worked out by a trainer earlier this week ahead of the King's Plate. Michael Burns photo

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After Vitality won the 2024 Prince of Wales Stakes, trainer Harold Ladouceur was quite emotional after.

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He understood the meaning of a Canadian triple crown race win not only for himself and his family, but for the Metis community celebrating this sporting achievement.

Ladouceur will now be eyeing a King’s Plate win when he sends out Imyourmedicineman in Saturday’s $1 million classic. And a win would trigger emotions again throughout the entire Woodbine backstretch where Ladouceur is a popular figure.

A son of 2015 Plate winner Shaman Ghost, Imyourmedicineman nearly pulled off a 28-1 win in the Plate Trial Stakes on July 19. The gelding battled Highwaytothemoon through much of the stretch, only falling a length short.

Up to that point, he only had a maiden win as a two-year-old and was not close in his two previous starts this year.

“He didn’t run that well his last two starts before the Plate Trial,” said Ladouceur, who is also a co-owner with wife Jessie. “I think the style he ran those races really wasn’t what he wanted.

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“Even though he’s sharp out of the gate, sometimes you have to take them back and let them relax, and then ask them to run.”

Luis Contreras, a two-time Plate winner who is now competing primarily in the U.S. Midwest, will have the mount.

TAKING A SHOT

Another popular trainer in the backstretch is Carlos Grant, who will saddle Bond Market in the big event. If he wins, both the backstretch and the toteboard will erupt.

Bond Market has only raced once, but what a debut. Sent off at 45-1, the son of Bond Street took the lead late in a one-mile turf race and looked very sharp.

The step up from a maiden race on the grass to Canada’s signature race is a huge one. But Grant does like what he sees from his charge.

“From the time he gets on the track, he loves to do his job,” he said. “He loves his work. He is a competitor and he loves his competition.”

Bond Market will again partner with promising young rider Xarel Forde, who is in his second season at Woodbine. The native of Barbados won 56 races as an apprentice in 2025. Going into this week’s racing, Forde has nine victories.

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DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES

Kevin Attard waited a long time to win a Plate but, over the past four years, he couldn’t stop winning them.

He won his first with Moira in 2022, who would go on to an outstanding career which included a Breeders’ Cup win. Two years ago, Caitlinhergrtness captured the delayed 2024 edition. And last year Mansetti completed the trainer’s hat trick.

To get his fourth on Saturday might be a bit more challenging as he sends two longshots to post as part of the 12-horse field.

Baaeed Alynna comes into the race with just a maiden win in three career starts. The colt was a close third in the Display Stakes last fall. In the Plate Trial, he was never a factor finishing sixth, but provided good information for Attard.

“That was his first time going two turns and anytime that is the case, you learn more about your horse and how to alter the game plan going forward,” he said. “He came out of it well and gave us confidence he belongs in this race.”

Sahin Civaci, Canada’s top jockey in 2024, gets the mount for the first time.

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Attard’s other entrant is Very Special, who has not exactly been that so far. In three races, all synthetic surface races for maidens, the colt has two thirds and a second-place finish.

There might be an excuse for his most recent start on July 4, though. Very Special hopped out of the gate then took a hard bump from a rival soon after. But Attard was pleased that the runner was able to shake that off and make a strong run to get into the trifecta.

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Attard is also confident the big occasion won’t be very hard on Very Special.

“He has a sharp mind and lots of ability,” he said. “Hopefully he brings that when the gate opens.”

Very Special will also provide Romero Maragh with his first Plate mount. A longtime rider at Gulfstream Park near his native Hollywood, Fla., Maragh moved his tack up north at the start of this season.

“It means everything, being my first season here at Woodbine,” Maragh said. “I know this race is the crème-de-la-crème for Canadian horse racing and I’m really appreciative to be part of it. I’m really excited.”

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