Paramount Prince is a star on the rise in his native Canada after his dominant frontrunning victory in the Aug. 20 King’s Plate. The Mark Casse-trained gelding will attempt to keep the flame burning through the autumn in the second jewel of the Canadian Triple Crown, the Prince of Wales Stakes Sept. 12.
The CA$400,000 Prince of Wales at Fort Erie racetrack, analogous to the U.S. Triple Crown’s Preakness Stakes (G1) with its unique 1 3/16-mile distance, boasts a field of 12 to challenge the King’s Plate hero.
Unfortunately for Paramount Prince’s other 11 rivals, however, the lack of early speed should play right into the favorite’s advantage. All three of the gelding’s wins have come in gate-to-wire fashion.
Regular rider Patrick Husbands has the call on the 3-year-old son of Society’s Chairman .
Paramount Prince was purchased by co-owner Michael Langolis for the basement price of $16,647 at the 2021 Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society Ontario-Bred Yearling Sale. He is also campaigned by longtime Casse client Gary Barber.
Six of the 12 Prince of Wales contenders finished behind Paramount Prince in the King’s Plate, with third-place finisher Stanley House and Velocitor (fourth) having the best chances to turn the tables on the gelding.
Michael P. De Paulo trained-Stanley House has the excuse of a troubled trip in the King’s Plate while Velocitor, the Coronation Futurity winner, should benefit from the cutback in distance.