2011 Prince of Wales Stakes Entries

On Wednesday July 13, final entries were taken for the 76th running of the $500,000 Prince of Wales Stakes, the second jewel of Canada's Triple Crown. A field of just 7 three-year-olds foaled in Canada made final entry, and post positions were drawn at a special lunchtime event at the Turfside Dining Room at Fort Erie Racetrack. Like its American counterpart, the Preakness, horses will go 1 3/16 miles over the conventional dirt surface at the "border oval". Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds while fillies (if any) carry 121. However, Queen's Plate and Woodbine Oaks winning filly Inglorious is skipping the rest of the Canadian Triple Crown, her connections opting to send her to Saratoga for the Alabama Stakes (G1).

The post positions were drawn via the traditional double-blind pill pull system. New York Rangers defenceman Dan Girardi was the honorary drawmaster, randomly pulling the entries out of the box while racing secretary John Whitson drew the numbered pills. Girardi, a native of nearby Welland, Ontario, played his minor hockey in Welland and was called up by the Rangers in 2006. Through the end of the 2010-11 season he has scored 24 goals and 87 assists in 360 games, with 165 penalty minutes. Interviewed on stage he talked about life under the New York media microscope and how family life in New York differs from Welland. His father and uncle are both regular visitors to Fort Erie and Woodbine, respectively, but he himself has had minimal exposure to racing. During the draw it was announced that John Whitson will be retiring from his position after Prince of Wales Day.

The likely favorite at 2-1 on the morning line is Hippolytus out of post 3, who comes to the race off a 2nd place finish in the Plate at odds of 60-1. Regular rider Tyler Pizarro gets the call on Sunday for trainer Mark Casse. Casse said, "Tyler felt Hippo needed to wear blinkers (which he wore first time in the Plate) since he noticed that he was intimidated by other horses around him in a race. Trainers tend to try something new when they run in the Prince of Wales but you never know what might happen. I know my horse has trained well since the Plate and seems to love working on the dirt."

Second choice on the board is Pender Harbour at 3-1, drawing post 2. He comes to Fort Erie off a 3rd place finish in the Plate under new jockey Chantal Sutherland, and will get Queen's Plate winning jockey Luis Contreras on Sunday. Trainer Mike DePaulo said, "I am happy to have Luis back. He knows this horse very well, is well acquainted with his running style, and has breezed him a number of times," including a 5 furlong work over the dirt training track at Woodbine on Monday, 1:01 1/5 and out 6 furlongs in 1:14 4/5. "He started off slow and finished up strong. He's ready to rock! I don’t think (the post) really matters but I’m a big guy on saving ground. The 2-hole doesn’t bother me a bit"

Queen's Plate favorite and 7th place finisher Check Your Soul drew the outside post 7 and is the 7-2 third choice on the morning line. Regular rider Patrick Husbands retains the mount. Trainer Roger Attfield, looking for his 6th Wales win, said of the Plate performance, "He suffered from a chemical imbalance called thumps, (which) are much like the human condition known as hiccups and could very well have caused the lackluster performance. He also tied up a bit while cooling out after the race."

The Prince of Wales is scheduled to go at 5:45pm ET on Sunday as the 9th race on the card. The race will be shown on The Score network in Canada from 5:00-6:00pm ET, with the Prince of Wales going off as the 9th race at 5:45pm. The full card will also be shown on HPI-TV in Canada and simulcast to many locations across North America. Free past performances for the Prince of Wales Stakes are available from BRISnet (look for Hippolytus).