Over a track surface turned sloppy by steady afternoon rain at Fort Erie, Velocitor (Mor Spirit) finally got the better of rival Paramount Prince (Society's Chairman) to take the second leg of the Canadian Triple Crown in the Prince of Wales S.
Fourth to the King's Plate S. winner in each of his last two starts, the dark bay gelding was able to turn the tables while drawn two gates to the outside of the 5/2 favorite. Outsprinted to the lead by Paramount Prince, Velocitor was able to tuck into a cozy spot just behind the pacesetter and enjoyed a ground-saving trip through a quick :22.80 opening quarter. Joined outside by Ottawa (Violence) up the backstretch, the 7-1 shot threaded between horses to begin his bid into the far turn. Paramount Prince, no doubt growing leg weary as the half went in :45.99, was game along the rail and top two turned for home together. Head and head into the final furlong, it was Velocitor who had something left to just edge by his rival close to home. Kaukokaipuu (Mr Speaker) had plenty of run left despite hanging on his left lead and got up in time to nail Paramount Prince on the line for the exacta slot.
Pedigree Note:
Polar Plunge, herself a multiple stakes winning mare, is a full-sister to fellow MSW Wind Chill Factor. She is also a half to GIII Whimsical S. winner Shakopee Town (Jersey Town). Velocitor hails from the first crop of Mor Spirit (by Eskendereya) and became his sire's first stakes winner last fall with a victory in Woodbine's restricted Coronation Futurity. His dam produced an unraced 2-year-old full-sister and reported a colt by Rock Your World this spring before returning to that Spendthrift stallion for 2024.
Tuesday, Fort Erie
PRINCE OF WALES S., C$400,000, Fort Erie, 9-12, (C), 3yo, 1 3/16m, 1:55.24, sy.
1–VELOCITOR, 126, g, 3, by Mor Spirit
1st Dam: Polar Plunge (MSW, $287,174),
by Successful Appeal
2nd Dam: Shakopee, by Evansville Slew
3rd Dam: La Kestrel, by Robin des Pins
O/B-Al & Bill Ulwelling (ON); T-Kevin Attard; J-Justin Stein.
C$240,000. Lifetime Record: 10-4-1-1, $445,761.
2–Kaukokaipuu, 126, c, 3, Mr Speaker–Grey Pride, by Mizzen
Mast. ($10,000 Ylg '21 FTKOCT). O-Culpepper Island Syndicate;
B-Sean Fitzhenry (ON); T-Tedston Holder. C$80,000.
3–Paramount Prince, 126, g, 3, Society's Chairman–Platinum
Steel, by Eddington. (C$21,000 Ylg '21 CANSEP). O-Michael J.
Langlois and Gary Barber; B-Ericka Nadine Rusnak (ON);
T-Mark E. Casse. C$40,000.
Margins: 1, NK, 2. Odds: 7.85, 7.75, 2.70.
Also Ran: Cool Kiss, Tiburon, Twin City, Stanley House, Trinity Park, Stayhonor Goodside, Morstachy's, Ottawa. Scratched: Armaline. Click for the Equibase.com chart.
VELOCITOR and Justin Stein win the 88th running of The Prince of Wales Stakes.
The second jewel of the @OLG_CA Canadian Triple Crown pic.twitter.com/uO8MtjxS1t
— Woodbine Racetrack (@WoodbineTB) September 12, 2023
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