Carroll Lands on Queen's Plate Contender

Born and raised in Louisville, Ky., and as the son of horsepeople David and Kim Carroll, Declan Carroll quickly gained an appreciation for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) at Churchill Downs, the American classic in which his father trained Dennis of Cork to a third-place finish in 2008 when he was young boy. Five weeks later in New York, Denis of Cork would run second in the Belmont Stakes (G1) in his final career start.

Declan, 23, less than four years into a riding career, now has his chance to make his own Triple Crown memories—though of the Canadian variety—riding the Heste Sport's Sir for Sure  for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse Aug. 21 in the CA$1 million Queen's Plate Stakes at Woodbine. Often called Canada's Kentucky Derby, the Queen's Plate mirrors the Run for the Roses as a prestigious 1 1/4-mile race for sophomores. It is the first leg of Canada's three-race series.

But while all of the equine participants need to have been born in Canada, that is not true of the human participants. Jockeys in the race hail from Canada as well as Barbados, France, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, and in Carroll's case, the United States. 

Watch: Carroll Talks First Season at Woodbine, Riding in Queen's Plate

When Carroll peers out in the post parade into the Woodbine stands, there will be one recognizable face: his father. Now an assistant trainer for Casse, leading the Kentucky division, David Carroll is on holiday this weekend, not tasked with saddling either Sir for Sure or Casse's other Queen's Plate starter, Hall of Dreams . His role this weekend is simply that of a proud parent.

Kim, who also works for Casse, remained behind in Kentucky to attend the Casse's string of horses.

That Declan can ride is no surprise, as both David and Kim have galloped horses for decades. Prior to beginning his training career, David was well known as the exercise rider of the great Easy Goer, winner of the 1989 Belmont Stakes.

Before that, for a short while, he rode in the afternoons—"Badly," David said—in his native Ireland.

"A morning glory," the elder Carroll quipped.

Declan, who only began riding in the fall of 2018, has the most important mount of his budding riding career Sunday, just months into his first full season riding at Woodbine. He enters the Queen's Plate card 12th in the local standings, having won 19 races under the guidance of agent Jordan Miller, who also represents leading jockey Kazushi Kimura.

"For Declan to have an opportunity to ride in it in his first year up here is really exciting, and it's something that I certainly didn't want to miss, and I want to thank Mark and the owners for giving him the opportunity," said his father.

"It's very special for me to have him here. He's backed me my whole career. He is the reason I'm pretty much in this game," added Declan. "I remember riding in the back of the car with him to Delaware Park one day for 11 hours. After the race, he was like, 'All right, time to go home.' Right back. Things like that bring back memories.

"But just to have him by my side here—unfortunately, my mom can't be here, or my sister (Aisling, age 25), but I know they'll be watching."

They'll be rooting on Declan while he rides a contender. The towering Sligo Bay  gelding, who stands 17.1 hands, is 2-for-2 in routes, a record that includes a two-length triumph in the Plate Trial Stakes at Woodbine under Carroll July 24.

After drafting behind horses on the inside in the Plate Trial, Carroll angled him out approaching the stretch and, after bumping with stablemate Hall of Dreams  while securing room, drew clear down the lane The way his mount finished leaves his rider excited for potential improvement with an extra furlong in the Queen's Plate.

"I think that's what makes them relish the distance so much. He needs to get those long legs under him," Carroll said.

In recent months, Carroll has picked up momentum as horsemen came to know the young jockey and see him ride. Previously, he rode mostly in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Louisiana.

Should Carroll have success in the Plate—Sir for Sure is 8-1 odds on the morning line after upsetting the Plate Trial at 21-1—his business would likely further expand. He appears on his way to making an impact in Canadian racing.

"All I can do is just kind of work my hardest, get in new barns, meet new people, and show people that I belong and that I'm the right fit for them," he said.