The $1 million Queen’s Plate is more than five months away, scheduled or June 28 at Woodbine, but for the connections of the 3-year-old filly Desert Ride, it might not be too early to start thinking about the race.

Ontario-bred Desert Ride had her first trip to the post in the eighth race Thursday at Fair Grounds and, despite making some mistakes, came away with a powerful win. Desert Ride rallied from last under Shaun Bridgmohan and really exploded the final furlong-and-a-half to take a going-away victory.

“Shaun’s been working her form me and the one thing he said was regardless of whether we ran her on turf or dirt, not to sprint her, to run her long first time,” Howard said.

Bred and owned by Sam-Son Farms, Desert Ride is the first foal to race produced by the Distorted Humor mare, Fun in the Desert. Fun in the Desert is a sister to three stakes winners including Eye of the Leopard, who won the 2009 Queen’s Plate for Sam-Son.

Howard said he’d find a first-level turf allowance race in which to run Desert Ride her next start.