The nominations for the 90th PRINCES OF WALES STAKES at Fort Erie racetrack, the second jewel of Canada’s Triple Crown, were posted on August 25 and heading the list is King’s Plate runner-up MILITARY TIME (Gun Runner).
There are seven nominations for the 1 3/16 mile dirt race, which will be held on Monday, September 7.
Plate winner LUSTER (Knicks Go) is by-passing the Prince of Wales and is reportedly being pointed to the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (G1) at Keeneland on the turf.
Here are the nominations:
Military Time, trained by Mark Casse for Gary Barber and Vincent Viola’s St. Elias Stable, added blinkers for the 1 1/4 mile Plate on the Tapeta track and he came from seventh place while wide to duel for the lead into the stretch before Luster drew off. Military Time, who was ridden by Fraser Aebly, was second, three-lengths clear of 61 to 1 shot Fire and Wine.
Casse has sent out the winners of 3 Prince of Wales’ Stakes but his last one was in 2018 with the filly Wonder Gadot.
Military Time has a record of 7-2-3-1 with two sprint wins and four stakes placed outings. He had a quick workout on a dirt track at Woodbine this summer and his sire Gun Runner was a champion on dirt in the U.S.
FIRE AND WINE (Lexitonian), owned by Paul Ryder and trained by Zeljko Krcmar came into the Plate with three losses by a total of over 47 lengths. He was sent to the lead in the Plate by jockey Jalon Samuel and stayed on well to be third for an 86 Beyer Speed Figure, matching his career best effort in his Coronation Futurity victory last year.
Lextonian is a Grade 1 winning sprinter who raced on dirt.
Plate Trial winner BRACHETTO was a flat eighth in the Plate for owners Ross and Brenda McKague, trailing while wide early in the race and then stalling on the final turn well back. He also has a solid dirt pedigree.
DON IQUE (Don Ee Kay) ran a super race in the Plate, coming from far behind to finish fifth with a steady rally for owner Mike Cooke and trainer Josie Carroll. The son of Astern (Aus) has had two starts on dirt, in sprints, and he was unplaced.
IMYOURMEDICINEMAN‘s very troubled journey in the Plate has been well documented and the Shaman Ghost gelding could be a solid contender in the Prince of Wales. The Harold Ladouceur trainee was second in the Plate Trial and he has dirt breeding. Ladouceur won the 2024 Wales with Vitality.
Owners Al and Bill Ulwelling have won two Prince of Wales Stakes in the last five years with Haddassah and Velocitor. This year they will try with Haddassah’s half brother BUIUM (boo-yum), a maiden son of Uncle Mo, who has been second or third five times in his nine races.
And recent debut winner KEEPMYPOWDERDRY, who had been working impressively for owner Michael Lay and trainer Don MacRae before his maiden special weight score on Aug. 15 at 1 1/8 miles, is also nominated. The big colt by Omaha Beach led all the way through soft pace fractions in his maiden win and earned an 80 Beyer Speed Figure for his 1 1/4 length win. The colt was bred by Sean and Dorothy Fitzhenry.
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