Queen’s Plate winner commits to Prince of Wales Stakes
Field of nine going for $400,000 purse in Fort Erie Race Track’s signature event
Canadian thoroughbred racing could have its first Triple Crown winner in 17 years after all.
Barring a late scratch, Queen’s Plate winner Mighty Heart will be racing in the 85th running of the Prince of Wales Stakes Tuesday at Fort Erie Race Track.
A 7-to-5 favourite heading into the second jewel at the Triple Crown, Mighty Heart drew the second starting position in Friday’s post-position draw. The one-eyed colt trained by Josie Carroll for Lawrence Cordes will be on the outside of 30-to-1 longshot Truebelieve, right next to Dotted Lone, whose morning-line odds are 8-to-1.
Nine horses are running in the $400,000 race for three-yearolds foaled in Canada, including five who competed in the Queen’s Plate held Sept. 12 at Woodbine in Toronto.
Daisuke Fukumoto, who rode Mighty Heart to a 7 1/2-length victory over Belichick in the Queen’s Plate, will again be in the saddle Tuesday when Mighty Heart continued its quest to become the first Canadian
triple since Wando in 2003.
Clayton, who drew the ninth starting position for the Prince of Wales after nosing out Tecumseh’s War for third in the Queen’s Plate, is listed as the 5-to-2 favourite heading into the weekend. Rounding out Tuesday’s field, from the rail out, are Red Mercury, fourth, 30-to-1; Enchant Me, fifth, 20to-1; Bold Victory, sixth, 12-to-1; Tecumseh’s War, seventh, 4to-1; and Muskoka Giant, eighth, 12-to-1.
While Mighty Heart’s name was submitted before the nomination deadline, his entry in the Prince of Wales, the signature event at Fort Erie Race Track, was not confirmed until the post-position draw.
“He came out of the Queen’s Plate in extremely good order and breezed very well on Thursday. We thought he deserved a chance for a run at the
Canadian triple crown,” Carroll said.
Two in the field have connections to Niagara. Truebelieve is owned by Centennial Farms in St. Anns while supplemental entry Red Mercury, trained by Paul Lepaine for MPB Stables, is stabled along the Fort Erie.
Truebelieve, ninth in the field of 14 racing on the Tapeta artificial turf at the Queen’s Plate, was in Fort Erie Friday morning training on the dirt track.
“He came out of the gate a little stronger than I wanted him to, and didn’t really settle, but he ran a good race,” trainer Cole Bennett said. “We wanted to give him another try with the Prince of Wales.
“He likes the dirt and trained really well over Fort Erie’s track, so we think the surface will suit him.”
Tuesday’s 2:10 p.m. post time is an hour later than usual, with the Prince of Wales set to go at 5:37 p.m.
The track will be closed to spectators due to COVID-19, as has been the case since the Ontario government allowed the industry to open in June.
Fans can watch the Canadian Triple Crown broadcast beginning at 5 p.m. on TSN.
Tuesday’s card will include a mandatory payout of the Jackpot High-5 pool in the final race, with a carryover amount of $178,381.93.
The Triple Crown wraps up Saturday, Oct. 24, at Woodbine with the Breeders’ Stakes.
Wonder Gadot in 2018 was the last Queen’s Plate winner to finish first in the Prince of Wales Stakes. She did not race in the Breeders’ Stakes.