TONE BROKE WINS FIRST STAKES IN PRINCE OF WALES
TONE BROKE, third from right, surges past AVIE’S FLATTER, who had the lead in the stretch and ONE BAD BOY on the rail to win the Prince of Wales Stakes on Tuesday at Fort Erie – CINDY PIERSON DULAY – HORSE-RACES.NET
Lee, Michael and Andy Levinson and Don Nelson’s TONE BROKE had a perfect trip at Fort Erie on Tuesday and parlayed that into victory in the $400,000 Prince of Wales Stakes, the second jewel of Canada’s Triple Crown. The sleek dark bay trained by US conditioner Steve Asmussen, ended the Triple Crown sweep hope for ONE BAD BOY, the Queen’s Plate winner who wound up third. Avie’s Flatter, second in the Plate, finished second.
Tone Broke was bred by Sean and Dorothy Fitzhenry of Toronto, who race champion Mr. Havercamp and Woodbine Oaks winner Dixie Moon among others.
Just five guys from the Plate contested the 1 3/16 miles on the Fort Erie dirt track and ONE BAD BOY was the heavy 4 to 5 favourite. Based on his front running score in the Plate, it seemed as if the Boy would try and grab an easy lead again.
But an awkward start from the gate which included Avie’s Flatter coming in on him just out of the stalls, left jockey Flavien Prat with no choice to urge his colt early and in moments, he was clear on the lead with his ears pricked. The first two furlongs in 23.50 was on the quick side but then One Bad Boy set a half mile mark of 48 with Avie’s Flatter tracking closely.
One Bad Boy hugged the rail on the turn for home but Avie’s Flatter went by and was then joined by Tone Broke and jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. who had the Broken Vow colt situated perfectly in third.
After a brief battle in the stretch, Tone Broke powered clear to win by 2 lengths over Avie’s Flatter, owned and bred by Ivan Dalos and trained by Josie Carroll. one Bad Boy was third followed by He’s a Macho Man and Skywire.
Tone Broke, third in the Plate, was the subject of an inquiry on Plate day as he lunged to the left out of the gate and interfered with Skywire. The colt was not disqualified but raced eagerly on his way to his third place finish.
The blinkers were taken off for the Wales. Assistant trainer Darren Fleming said, “He was a little anxious in the Queen’s Plate, he didn’t want to settle the first quarter of a mile. Today he was a lot smoother. (Sitting third) was kind of how it unfolded. He had a smooth break, he was very relaxed within himself. Ricardo just waited to see what everybody else was going to do. We knew he was going to finish up.”
Tone Broke was a $40,000 yearling purchase by the Levinson’s and Nelson, all from Tulsa, Oklahoma, who race as L and N Racing Stable LLC. They have raced horses since 2015 and their best horse has been Lookin at Lee, 2nd in the 2017 Kentucky Derby.
Tone Broke is from the Fitzhenry’s mare Mendocino Beano is a daughter of one of the Fitzhenry’s early broodmare purchases, Trishyde Slew, a daughter of the great Seattle Slew and a foundation mare for the couple.
Trishyde Slew is the dam of six winners including $220,000 earner Greenapple Martini plus Virginia Plain and Tennessee Lamb.
Tennessee Lamb is the dam of 2018 Champion Older Horse and Turf Male Mr. Havercamp, a graded stakes winner this year for the Fitzhenrys.
Mendocino Beano, dam of stakes winner Stallion Heiress, has a 2-year-old filly in training at Woodbine, a full sister to Tone Broke, named Sansa’s Vow.
The final jewel of the Triple Crown is the 1 1/2 mile Breeders’ Stakes at Woodbine on the grass on August 17 (Saturday). Watch the last half of the race here:
http://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1575575107913/
