Velocitor overtakes Paramount Prince to win Prince of Wales

Velocitor upset favorite Stanley House and King’s Plate winner Paramount Prince to win the Prince of Wales, the second leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, at Fort Erie on Tuesday.

With Justin Stein riding on a sloppy and sealed track, Paramount Prince led most of the way in the 1 3/16-mile race, with Velocitor keeping pace in third and then second before pulling even at the top of the stretch. The two dueled before Velocitor pulled away to win by a length over Kaukokaipuu, who snuck in to edge out Paramount Prince for second.

In the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, the King’s Plate at Woodbine, Velocitor finished fourth, with Stanley House in third. Velocitor also was fourth in the Plate Trial, with Paramount Prince winning that as well.

Attard told Horse Racing Nation for a Barn Tour feature that the son of Mor Spirit had improved since being gelded earlier this year. He said Velocitor entered the Prince of Wales after “pretty solid performances” in his two previous races.

He said he did not plan to enter him in the third leg of the Triple Crown, the Breeders' Stakes on turf at Woodbine. Until the Prince of Wales, all of Velocitor's 10 starts had been on synthetic at Woodbine.

Sent off at 7-1 odds, Velocitor paid $17.70, $8.40 and $5.20.