What the Preakness is to the American Triple Crown races, Fort Erie’s Prince of Wales Stakes is to Canadian racing. Today is the second leg of Canada’s Triple Crown, and though the chance of the Triple Crown is not on the line, we still have the second leg of Canada’s rite of passage today.
Why is the Triple Crown not on the line? That is because the King’s Plate winner Caitlinhergrtness is not entered in this second leg. Trainer Kevin Attard said that he did not want to race her after racing three times in seven weeks. He expects her back in October, which means she is not planned for the Breeders’ Stakes, the final Triple Crown race on September 29.
But with the similarities of the American Triple Crown, there are differences. The distances are the same, but we will see the lone dirt race in the cycle. Woodbine ran the first race on the main synthetic track, while the final race will be run on the turf.
The biggest difference is the fact that this race is run on a Tuesday as opposed to a Saturday in the United States. That’s where were are now as we will look at today’s big race at Fort Erie.
Fort Erie Race 10 – Prince of Wales Stakes
We have a field of ten three-year-olds here going a mile and three-sixteenths. Favored is the 5 Midnight Mascot (5/2 morning line) who settled near the back of the pack and made a strong much. But he could not catch Caitlinhergreatness and My Boy Prince in the stretch.
The 10 Essex Serpent (8/1 ML) has a chance to be lose on the lead today. He tired badly last time in the King’s Plate. He bounced off his effort in the Marine Stakes at Woodbine and can bounce back here today.
A horse that you may think will be on the front end is the 3 Wyoming Bill (10/1 ML). But that maiden breaker in an off the turf race was only a five-horse field. I have grown more and more leery of horses who run in small fields like that race was last month at Woodbine. Especially with a big jump in class today at Fort Erie.
The 9 Pierre (4/1 ML) was stalking the pace and held his own in the King’s Plate finishing fourth. He is a horse that can close, especially if they go way too fast up front today at Fort Erie.
An interesting entry here is the 4 Passioned (10/1 ML). He is the only horse that regularly ran on the dirt, which is the same surface as Fort Erie. Remember, Woodbine’s King’s Plate is run on the main synthetic track.
He finished third facing older last time out at Laurel. Though he will have to run further than he has had in the past, he does have the advantage of dirt track experience while all the other horses, except one, has run on the synthetic or turf at Woodbine.
That horse may be an outsider, but the 8 Scat Factor (30/1 ML) ran in an off the turf race at Fort Erie last month. He stretches back out today after finishing third in a sprint race.
Joe’s pick
This is a tricky race that is worthy of a Quills Picks Winners race. We have a field of ten where most have not run the dirt. I’m tempted to take Passioned, but I am leaning elsewhere.
When you have a horse who appears to set an easy pace today up front, that is a dangerous proposition for the rest of the field. Essex Serpent will do that and go gate to wire here today at Fort Erie in the Prince of Wales Stakes. Let’s call this 10-9-4-5 and my play is $20 to win on the 10. Best of luck everyone!
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