Canadian Triple Crown: Vitality rallies, wins Prince of Wales

Vitality rallied from mid-pack with a wide turn into the homestretch before José Campos rode him inward to a four-length upset triumph Tuesday in the 1 3/16-mile, US$293,375 Prince of Wales Stakes on the dirt at Fort Erie.

A Stronach Stables homebred gelding by Street Boss, Vitality (9-1) became the 13th different horse to win in the last 13 Canadian Triple Crown races. Vitality finished sixth last month in the King’s Plate, the first jewel of the series that is limited to 3-year-olds bred in Canada. Caitlinhergrtness, who won the Aug. 23 classic going 1 1/4 miles on the Woodbine synthetic course, was not entered for the Prince of Wales.

Click here for Fort Erie entries and results.

Trained by Harold Ladouceur, Vitality broke from post 2 of 10 and settled along the rail in fifth place. Airosa (6-1), a filly who was a stakes winner at age 2, set the pace through splits of 23.22, 47.19 and 1:11.40 with the colt Wyoming Bill (16-1) stalking her around the first turn and up the backstretch.

Vitality was in sixth when Campos wheeled him six wide out of the turn. Once he passed Wyoming Bill to move into second, Vitality was angled sharply toward Airosa, who went the first mile in 1:36.40. The two frontrunners drew even at the eighth pole before Vitality exerted a lengthening stride on the way to victory.

The winning time was 1:55.72 on the fast track. Vitality paid $20.10, $8.60 and $5.50. Airosa finished second and returned $8.20 and $7.20. Maiden gelding Bedard (6-1) was another 1 3/4 lengths up the track in third and paid $5.40. The gelding Passioned was a farther half-length back in fourth.

Wyoming Bill, Pierre (7-1), Mark Casse-trained Midnight Mascot (7-2), Jokestar (8-1), Scat Factor (63-1) and post-time favorite Essex Serpent (3-1) finished sixth through 10th in that order. Essex Serpent, a Casse-trained Honor Code gelding who faded badly in the second turn Tuesday, also finished 10th in the King’s Plate.

Since he was gelded and had Lasix added this summer, Vitality has gone from an 0-for-6 maiden to winning two of his last three starts. The Prince of Wales was his first race on dirt.

Now 9: 2-1-1, Vitality added US$176,024 to run his career earnings to US$249,920.

Ladouceur and Campos both won their first Canada classic.

It was the second Prince of Wales win for the Stronach family. The first came in 2008 with Harlem Rocker, who was trained by Todd Pletcher. He went on to finish first that year in the Cigar Mile Handicap (G1) at Aqueduct only to be disqualified for interference and placed second.

The Breeders’ Stakes covering 1 1/2 miles on the Woodbine turf will be run Sept. 29 as the third race in the Canadian Triple Crown.