Runaway Again spoils Mansetti’s bid for Canadian Triple Crown
In just his third race, Runaway Again took the lead from King’s Plate winner Mansetti with only three strides to spare Tuesday to win the 90th running of the US$289,787 Prince of Wales Stakes going 1 3/16 miles on the dirt at Fort Erie.
With jockey Ryan Munger timing a late rally perfectly, Runaway Again (8-1) ended the bid by Mansetti (8-5) to become the 13th Canadian Triple Crown winner. Mansetti had won the King’s Plate on Aug. 16 on the Woodbine Tapeta.
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Hall of Famer Sid Attard trained his first Prince of Wales victor. He spoiled the hopes of his nephew and three-time winner Kevin Attard, who trains Mansetti.
Even though he was not as sharp out of the gate as he was last month, Mansetti carried his rider Pietro Moran to lead the field of seven Canada-bred 3-year-olds. He set honest fractions of 23.12, 46.96 and 1:10.76, all the while with Scorching (7-2) in close pursuit.
Runaway Again, who had been fourth early, moved up to third going into the second turn and was second wheeling into the homestretch. Mansetti was a length ahead through a mile in 1:35.87.
Mansetti raced in the two path as his lead shrunk. Runaway Again found a burst of speed in the three path approaching the sixteenth pole, and he raced on to a half-length win with a final time of 1:55.64 on the fast main track.
Runaway Again paid $18.50, $8.00 and $4.30. Mansetti placed second and returned $3.90 and $2.50. Faber (9-2) closed from last to take third and paid $2.90 to show. Scorching faded to finish fourth.
A 3-year-old Hard Spun gelding, Runaway Again is a homebred for the Stronach family which won the Prince of Wales for the third time as an owner. He did not make his debut until July 13, winning by 9 1/4 lengths with Munger in a maiden route race which was moved from the turf to the Tapeta. In the King’s Plate with Hall of Famer Javier Castellano riding, Runaway Again never was a factor, and he finished 10th of 13.
The final jewel of the Canadian Triple Crown will be run Sept. 28 at Woodbine, where the 135th Breeders’ Stakes goes 1 1/2 miles on the inner turf.