Shannodoe Farm-bred Highwaytothemoon Shines Again in Plate Trial

Highwaytothemoon will carry a two-race stakes win streak into the 167th running of the King’s Plate on Aug. 15 after the gelding passed his first two-turn test in polished fashion to win the $200,000 Plate Trial Stakes on Sunday at Woodbine.

Bred in Ontario by James Everatt, Janeane Everatt and Arika Everatt-Meeuse, Highwaytothemoon (Ransom the Moon – High Society Gal, by Society’s Chairman) improved to 7: 4-1-1 lifetime and 3-1-0 from four starts in 2026.

Ridden by regular pilot Rafael Hernandez, the gelded son of Ransom the Moon broke alertly from post 6 and settled kindly on the rail in third through an opening quarter-mile in 23.33 seconds.

Post-time favorite Casson, pressured closely by Powell River, raced 1-2 through an opening half-mile in 47.84 seconds, with 2025 Coronation Futurity winner Fire and Wine pursuing in third and Highwaytothemoon saving good ground in fourth.

Inside the three-furlong marker, 28-1 shot Imyourmedicineman launched a strong outside move to catapult into contention as the field of 11 hit six furlongs in 1:12.32.

Turning for home, Hernandez angled the bay gelding off the rail, split Casson and Imyourmedicineman and gamely outgunned the latter to score by 1 length in the nine-furlong King’s Plate prep for 3-year-olds foaled in Canada. Hernandez also guided Highwaytothemoon to victory in the seven-furlong Queenston Stakes on June 7.

The mile went in 1:38.59, and the final time was 1:52.17. The Plate Trial was delayed after Very Special was ruled a late veterinary scratch, which forced riders to dismount and reset.

Winning trainer Dale Desruisseaux lauded the gelding’s pre-race composure and versatility. “He’s done everything we’ve asked,” Desruisseaux said. “His mind is so good. You could see him. He wasn’t washed out at all. He was cool and calm and he showed that in the race.” Of the stretch-out in distance, Desruisseaux added, “He went from 5/8ths, now a mile and 1/8th, great.”

Hernandez, who has ridden Highwaytothemoon in six of his seven career starts, pointed to the quality of the gelding’s morning drills, including a bullet five-furlong move on June 27 in 57.8 seconds, best of 21 workers that day. “Last couple of works, Dale said Raffy, he’s gonna run good, so I know he’s been working good and it show up today,” Hernandez said.

“He showed me a big heart, he don’t give up,” said the three-time King’s Plate-winning rider. “He was on the bridle when I asked him to go, he was there already. When I put him in gear, he gave me everything he had.”

Owned by Centennial Farms, Highwaytothemoon was making his fourth start of his sophomore season after a runner-up finish in the seven-furlong King Corrie Stakes and a 1 1/4-length win in the Queenston.

-edited from http://www.paulickreport.com