Haddassah wins Prince of Wales Stakes

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FORT ERIE — Kevin Attard didn’t fairly have the Queen’s Plate he needed.

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The veteran coach had by no means gained the race, however had three good probabilities on Aug. 22 at Woodbine. Nevertheless, his finest end was third with H C Vacation. He additionally watched Harlan Property end seventh and Haddassah find yourself eighth.

On Tuesday, a change of location and floor modified his fortunes as Haddassah and Harlan Property battled by way of the stretch, with the previous taking the $400,000 Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie Racetrack.

Ridden by veteran Gary Boulanger, who gained his first Prince of Wales, Haddassah landed in an ideal place early within the 1 3/16-mile race, sitting second behind lengthy shot Prepared At Daybreak. Harlan Property sat just a few lengths additional again in fourth. Haddassah took the lead from the outclassed pacesetter simply earlier than the highest of the stretch and Harlan Property additionally made his transfer exterior of him. Within the stretch, Harlan Property acquired to inside a head however Haddassah had sufficient to win by a half-length at odds of 6-1.

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“It was an ideal journey,” Boulanger stated. “This horse confirmed us that he’s actually beginning to mature. He settled loads higher than he did within the Plate. Within the Plate, I needed to strangle him again a bit.”

“He swapped his lead late but it surely didn’t price him any momentum. He was decided so (Harlan Property) wasn’t getting by me.”

In 4 earlier begins, the three-year-old son of Air Drive Blue had run twice on the turf, together with a win in his debut final fall, and twice on Woodbine’s Tapeta, together with the Plate run and an earlier third-place end within the Marine Stakes. The swap to filth actually helped him.

“Once I labored him right here final Tuesday, he went 48 2/5 however he did it so effortlessly,” Boulanger stated. “I informed Kevin he labored nicely on the filth and Kevin stated he’d been working nicely on the filth at house too.”

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Attard, who beforehand gained the Prince of Wales with Alezzandro in 2007, truly thought Harlan Property had the higher preparation on the filth.

“I believed (Harlan Property) labored extraordinarily nicely,” Attard stated. “At Woodbine, he had been common. However when he got here right here (for a piece final week), I believed ‘wow’… I used to be taken again and I believed he would actually run nicely.”

But it surely was his stablemate proving finest on Tuesday.

“I at all times thought extremely of Haddassah. We had been actually optimistic going into his three-year-old marketing campaign and thought he had a very good probability within the Queen’s Plate,” Attard stated. “On the prime of the stretch, he made a transfer in the direction of (winner) Protected Conduct however he didn’t have sufficient I suppose.”

“He skilled nicely since. He matured since that Queen’s Plate. He was relaxed in his coaching within the mornings. And he put all of it collectively right this moment.”

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Attard is contemplating the Breeders’ Stakes on Oct. 3 as Haddassah’s subsequent begin, however nothing is decided.

ATTARD SWEEP

H C Vacation additionally ran nicely, ending fourth, however Attard might additionally cheer the horse that ended third, which was Maintain Grinding. That runner is skilled by his father Tino and owned by his son Joshua.

EMOTIONAL WIN

Haddassah is owned by his breeders, the father-and-son crew of Al and Invoice Unwelling. The Minnesota-based Unwellings, perennially sturdy at their house monitor of Canterbury Downs, have been part of the Ontario racing scene for a number of years and have constructed a really spectacular breeding operation within the province. They’ve been purchasers of Attard’s for a very long time and he was emotional speaking about that partnership.

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“It was actually particular. They’re massive supporters of me,” Attard stated. “I want they had been right here. They’ve given me a great probability with some good horses.”

“I feel they’re going to be successful extra of those massive races sooner or later.”

TOP GUY SCORES

4 different stakes shared the highlight on the border oval. Christopher Husbands came upon on Monday he can be using Purple Equinox within the $80,000 Rondeau Bay Stakes. Then utilizing his huge native information, he gained the race because the 5-2 second alternative.

Fort Erie’s main rider had his three-year-old filly on the rail in fourth early within the six-furlong race. He did get into tight quarters across the flip however swung to the skin turning for house and took command, holding off Sunsprite, the race favourite who had damaged very poorly from the gate.

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It was Husbands’ forty first winner on the meet, widening his margin within the native jockey standings to 22 over his closest pursuer, Juan Crawford.

“I’m having enjoyable having fun with the monitor and having fun with the folks,” Husbands stated.

It was the third win in six begins and first stakes rating for the Jamie Attard-trained Purple Equinox.

CHASING SPEED

A torrid battle on the entrance set the desk for Purple River Insurgent to win the $80,000 Lake Erie Stakes. Ridden by Rafael Hernandez, the three-year-old gelding bided his time whereas three runners set the tempo together with race favorite Forest Survivor. He handed the weary battlers early within the stretch and drew away to a four-length win.

Educated by Kevin Attard, Purple River Insurgent is now two-for-six lifetime. He took the Frost King Stakes at Woodbine final 12 months.

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REPEAT WINNER

Seau, with Sunny Singh aboard, took the $30,000 Le Cinquieme Essai Cup for his second consecutive win. Singh tracked the pace of favourite Be Vewy Vewy Quiet earlier than outlasting that one in a great stretch duel to win at odds of 7-2. Educated by John Simms, the seven-year-old gelding now has 10 profession wins.

SECOND SCORE

Simms, one of many main trainers on the Fort Erie meet, scored his second stakes win later within the card when Function Creature took the $30,000 Molson Cup.

Ridden by Kazushi Kimura, the five-year-old mare sat behind horses early underneath arduous restraint. Within the stretch, he discovered a gap to get to the skin and when the brakes had been launched, he rolled to a two-length win. It was the fifth profession win for Function Creature.

VAXX NEEDED

As a part of the Ontario authorities’s Proof of Vaccination coverage introduced Tuesday, Ontario racetracks would require all patrons to point out proof of vaccination to enter indoor areas as of Sept. 22. Nevertheless as a part of the exceptions, those that simply wish to enter the monitor for a brief interval to put a guess or money winnings is not going to have to point out their proof.

PAYOFFS

4 — Haddassah $15.50 $7.40 $4.60

7 — Harlan Property $5.20 $3.50

8 — Maintain Grinding $3.80

Exactor 4-7 $65.00

Triactor 4-7-8 $296.80