Le Cinquieme Essai, winner of the Prince of Wales Stakes, with his owner Bill Scott and trainer Paul Nielsen.

Dateline: 07/21/02

Local hero Le Cinquieme Essai thrilled the Fort Erie fans by winning their biggest race of the year and the second leg of Canada's Triple Crown, the Prince of Wales Stakes. The chestnut colt by Fastness was coming off a two race win streak, a maiden special weight at Fort Erie and a turf allowance at Woodbine. Finishing second was 28-1 longshot Bravely, who had to scratch from the Queen's Plate due to a fever, while Anglian Prince was third. The race was very contentious with the favorite, Shaws Creek, going off at only 4.8-1. Nine of the twelve horses went off at odds of 13-1 or less, showing the bettors really didn't have a good idea who would win.

When the field passed the stands for the first time, Ford Every Stream led the procession with Forever Grand and Le Cinquieme Essai in stalking position to his outside. Down the backstretch Steven Bahen asked TJ's Lucky Moon to take the lead which he did, but the pace was too quick for him and after six furlongs in 1:10.33 he began to tire and dropped back.

At the top of the stretch, jockey Brian Bochinski asked Le Cinquieme Essai for his run and he responded, passing the early runners to gain the lead with a four wide move. He ran the mile in 1:36.68 and was 1 length clear of Plate runner-up Anglian Prince who had come from as far back as eighth. Anglian Prince could not sustain his bid and finished third beaten nearly one length. Bravely, who had been back in tenth early, came on strong in the far turn between runners, going full out along the rail down the stretch, but was just too late and finished 3/4 length back of the winner. Le Cinquieme Essai finished the 1 3/16 miles over a fast Fort Erie main track in 1:56.53, made more respectable by the fact that he ran four wide around both turns.

Pgm  Horse              Jockey            Win   Place  Show
11   Le Cinquieme Essai Bochinski       15.40    8.90  5.60
10   Bravely            Barton                  26.50 12.20
 6   Anglian Prince     McAleney                       4.20


Le Cinquieme Essai and jockey Brian Bochinski lead the way home by 3/4 of a length in the Prince of Wales Stakes.
Winning Time:  1:56.53

$2 Exacta 11-10              426.40
$2 Trifecta 11-10-6        2,334.10
$1 Superfecta 11-10-6-all  4,289.40

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