Horse: Dance With Ravens
Post Position: 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Jockey: Todd Kabel

Trainer: Mark Frostad

Owners: Sam-Son Farm

• He has the credentials any Queen's Plate starter would crave: impeccable breeding, Canada's most prolific owner/breeder, a prominent trainer and a five-time Sovereign Award winner at the controls. Dance With Ravens, a son of classic sire A.P. Indy, out of Sam-Son Farm's Hall of Fame mare and 1991 Triple Crown winner Dance Smartly, heads into Sunday's 146th edition of the Plate with plenty of pedigree and a sparkling resume.

• Did we mention that Dance With Ravens is also a half-brother to Plate winners (2000) Scatter The Gold and (2001) Dancethruthedawn? The bay colt made his debut on August 22 on a firm Woodbine turf, finishing third to Stag Nation, 1 1/2-lengths back in the seven-furlong race. After being blocked in the stretch, the Ontario-bred rallied gamely. "He ran a pretty green race, obviously looking around and not paying much attention," said conditioner Mark Frostad, who is seeking his fourth Plate victory. "That's why we put blinkers on him after that."

• Fashioning a new look, Dance With Ravens was once again on the green, but wasn't quite as green, finishing a game second, 2 1/4-lengths in arrears of U.S. invader Dubleo in the Grade 2 Summer Stakes on September 19. But the third time was indeed the charm for the Sam-Son star, as 'Ravens' winged his way to the winner's circle in the Grade 2 Grey Breeders' Cup Stakes, one of the most significant races in the country for two-year-olds. "The Grey Breeders' was a great race," said Frostad. "The unfortunate thing was that he came out of the race with chips in both ankles. For him to win it and win it the tough way, it was pretty encouraging."

• So what exactly does Frostad mean when he made reference to "the tough way?" "He waits for horses, there's no question about it. He likes to engage them and he won't let them by, but that gives you a heart attack. Of course, that leaves the late closers or horses on the outside that he can't see, the opportunity to blow right by him and he wouldn't know it."

• That sounds like a familiar issue for Frostad and Co. In fact, he doesn't have to look very far to find another horse with the exact same approach, Sam-Son standout Soaring Free. "He does that a bit, too," said Frostad, in reference to last year's Atto Mile champion, Top Turf Male and Horse of the Year. "Soaring Free has done that with maturity, he knows what the game is all about. He's a lot more hip as to how fast they are coming and what he has to do to win. Dance With Ravens, I'm not sure he gets it. He likes to play around as well."

• When Dance With Ravens does "get it," the lifetime winner of $270,110 should be a real handful for his rivals. But, as many have discovered, the April foal, who finished third on the turf to kick off his three-year-old campaign at Keeneland in April, is already tough to contend with. On May 7, Dance With Ravens, fended off a talented rival in Atanas (out of the Plate due to a season-ending injury) by a neck.

• Then came the Plate Trial on June 5. After a three-wide bid, Dance With Ravens took the lead in the 1

1/8-mile feature. When Three In The Bag, whom he'll face once again in the Plate, began a powerful rally to his outside, Dance With Ravens dug in and fended off his rival by a hard-fought neck. But what should have been cause for celebration was dashed, after Ontario Racing Commission Stewards ruled 'Ravens' interfered with Atanas at the start, placing the winner sixth. Sam-Son and Frostad have appealed the decision.

• Still, Frostad had to be plenty pleased with the effort of his emerging star, who earned a 92 Beyer figure (Daily Racing Form speed rating), his highest number to date. "At one point, early in the stretch, I thought he was going to get passed. Part way down the stretch, the horse (Three In The Bag) closed up ground very quickly on him. When they finally engaged, the jock (Todd Kabel) came back and told me, 'He wouldn't have let him by.' He galloped out very well, too."

• "(In the Plate) You'd like to see something out there a little longer, so he wouldn't have to find himself on the lead and leave himself susceptible to a late closer, especially if he starts loafing."

• "He is just more mature and stronger - that's all. He was a nice two-year-old and he's turned into a very nice three-year-old. He's pretty even-tempered, a pretty nice horse. He's got a lot of talent."

Owner - Sam-Son Farm

Sam-Son Farm has earned Sovereign Awards as Canada's outstanding owner on eight occasions (1980, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1991, 2000, 2001 and 2004) and named seven times as outstanding breeder (1988, 1991, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004).

Last year, Sam-Son topped the Woodbine standings, courtesy of 37 wins and $4,262,645 in purse earnings. The red and gold captured 13 stakes, four with their phenomenal Soaring Free, who went on to win the Atto Mile, along with two Sovereign Awards, Top Turf Male and Horse of the Year. Other highlights included a Labatt Woodbine Oaks triumph with Eye of the Sphynx, Colorful Judgement in the Sky Classic Stakes and Shoal Water in the Chinese Cultural Centre Stakes.

In 2003, Sam-Son won 31 races (nine stakes) and over $3.1 million in purses at Woodbine. The season was highlighted by Sovereign Award (Top Sprinter) winner Soaring Free, who won three local stakes events, the Ontario Jockey Club, Nearctic and Play The King. Also, Sam-Son's Dance Smartly received the highest honour in the sport when she was inducted in the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame at Saratoga Springs in August of 2003.

In 2002, Sam-Son won 28 races (eight stakes) and over $2.8 million in purses at Woodbine, second only to Stronach Stables' $3.6 million. The season was highlighted by Portcullis' three added-money wins, including the Breeders' Stakes, on his way to earning a Sovereign Award as champion turfer.
In 2001, the stable won 27 races (10 stakes) and over $3.2 million, topped by Sovereign Award-winning three-year-old filly Dancethruthedawn's wins in the Labatt Woodbine Oaks and Queen's Plate. Ernie Samuel, the founder of Sam-Son Farm, was inducted into the Canadian Racing Hall of Fame as a builder in 1998. He died in May of 2000 at the age of 69. Since then, the stable has been managed by his wife Liza and daughter Tammy Samuel-Balaz.

In 2000, Sam-Son banked more than $5 million in purses. The bittersweet year was highlighted by Quiet Resolve's runner-up finish in the Breeders' Cup Turf on his way to Sovereign Awards as Canada's Horse of the Year and Turf Champion; Scatter The Gold capturing the Queen's Plate and Catch The Ring's win in the Oaks.

Sam-Son Farm has produced some of Canada's most famous thoroughbreds. Dance Smartly (1991), Sky Classic (1992) and Chief Bearhart (1997) were all voted Eclipse Awards as North American champions. The stable has also won four Queen's Plates: Regal Intention (1988), Dance Smartly (1991), Scatter The Gold (2000) and Dancethruthedawn (2001) and a record seven Oaks: Classy 'N Smart (1984), Tilt My Halo (1988), Tiffany's Secret (1990), Dance Smartly (1991), Catch The Ring (2000), Dancethruthedawn (2001) and Eye Of The Sphynx (2004). Other major wins include the Atto Mile (Quiet Resolve, 1999) and Canadian International (Sky Classic, 1991 and Chief Bearhart, 1997).

In 1991, Samuel was named Canadian racing's Man-of-the-Year as his unbeaten filly Dance Smartly became the first Canadian-owned and bred horse to win a Breeders' Cup race, taking the Distaff at Churchill Downs. She also became the only filly to win the Canadian Triple Crown and is the only mare to foal back-to-back Plate winners (Scatter The Gold and Dancethruthedawn).

In 1997, Sam-Son's Chief Bearhart won the Breeders' Cup Turf at Hollywood Park. The four-year-old colt was voted both an Eclipse Award as North America's top male turf horse and was the unanimous choice as Canada's Horse of the Year. On August 29, 2002, he was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.

Sam-Son is currently second behind Oaks winning outfit, Harlequin Ranches, in the Woodbine owner standings with $459,923 in purse earnings (eight wins) through Saturday, June 18.

Trainer - Mark Frostad

Mark Frostad was in familiar territory in 2004, a Sovereign Award finalist again, finishing second to Robert Tiller. He won 39 races, including 13 stakes tallies, tops among all Toronto oval trainers. He was also the only trainer to pass the $4-million mark in purse earnings, $4,343,853 in total.

Frostad enjoyed another banner season in 2003, directing Sam-Son Farm to a strong campaign both in Canada and south of the border. He was also a Sovereign Award finalist again, finishing third to Robert Tiller. He won 33 races, including nine stakes tallies.

In 2002, he spearheaded Sam-Son to a leading eight stakes wins, over $2.8 million in purses and was also a Sovereign finalist.

In 2001, his year was highlighted by Oaks and Queen's Plate winner Dancethruthedawn. Frostad-trained horses have earned over $2 million in seven of the last eight years and $3 million in four of the last five campaigns.

He has won three Sovereign Awards (1997, 1999, 2000) as Canada's outstanding conditioner. He's also trained at least one Sovereign Award winner every year since 1994.

The Brantford native's introduction to horse racing began when he worked at Bo-Teek Farms, owned by his late father George, during the summer while attending Princeton University. He completed his M.B.A. at the University of Western Ontario in London.

After heading his own bloodstock agency, Frostad took out his trainer's licence in 1989 and began actively training in 1991. He was selected to head Sam-Son Farm after directing Earle Mack's Bruce's Mill to a championship sophomore season in 1994.

Since then, he has trained three Queen's Plate winners (Victor Cooley in 1996, Scatter The Gold in 2000, Dancethruthedawn in 2001) and won every high-profile added-money event in Canada, including the aforementioned Oaks (Catch The Ring in 2000; Dancethruthedawn in 2001; Eye Of The Sphynx in 2004), the Atto Mile (Quiet Resolve in 1999; Soaring Free in 2004) and Canadian International (Chief Bearhart in 1997).

Frostad also trained Chief Bearhart to a Breeders' Cup Turf win in 1997 and consecutive Canadian Horse of the Year titles in 1997 and 1998.

On April 10, 2004, Soaring Free gave Frostad his milestone 100th career stakes score, taking the $115,100 Shakertown Stakes at Keeneland in Kentucky.

For the past 13 years, Todd Kabel has ranked in the top four at Woodbine, in wins and purse earnings.

'King' Kabel saved his best for last in 2004, his crowning moment coming on the final day of racing, as he won his record-equalling 36th stakes win (tying the late Avelino Gomez) on the campaign aboard Enough Is Enough in the Kingarvie Stakes. He led the colony in numerous categories, including wins (156), purse earnings ($10,467,570), turf triumphs (44) and set a Canadian record by winning his first seven turf races of the year. Kabel, who went on to win his fourth Top Rider Sovereign Award, teamed with Horse of The Year and Top Turf Male Soaring Free to win the Atto Mile, Highlander, Ontario Jockey Club and Play The King Stakes.

In 2003, Kabel established several career-high marks, including purse earnings ($11,279,655), the first time a Canadian-based jockey has ever cracked the eight-digit mark in earnings.

He led the colony in wins (160), seconds (163), thirds (109), purse earnings, stakes, in-the-money average (51.8%), allowance wins (45), route wins (61) and turf wins (31). Not surprisingly, Kabel went on to win his third Sovereign as the country's top rider, his fourth overall. He is closing in on 3,000 wins and $85 million in purses.

In 2001, he won 145 races, 11 stakes and $7,031,736 in taking his third riding title. In 2000, he won 10 stakes, none bigger than his second Queen's Plate win aboard Scatter The Gold. Kabel also captured Fort Erie's Prince of Wales Stakes with the Sam-Son three-year-old before finishing third in the Breeders' Stakes. In 1999, Kabel finished third at Woodbine with 126 wins and just over $4 million in purses, capturing 11 stakes races.

Born in McCreary, Manitoba, on December 7, 1965, Kabel's first win was aboard Forli's Ainikel at Assiniboia Downs, July 4, 1984. His rise to prominence began when he earned a Sovereign Award as Canada's top apprentice jockey in 1986, winning 131 races (sixth in North America) while competing mostly at Assiniboia Downs in Winnipeg. He came east in 1987 and after splitting his riding between Winnipeg and Toronto during the next two seasons, moved to Toronto permanently in 1990. In 1992, he earned a Sovereign Award as top rider.

His 1995 season was one for the record books. Kabel won 193 races (second most ever at Woodbine behind Mickey Walls' 221 in 1991), $5.1 million in purses and 28 stakes wins. The season was highlighted by his first Plate victory aboard Regal Discovery and his second Sovereign Award as Canada's top jockey.