Wagering tops $3 million during Fort Erie Race Track’s signature event
It was a barrier breaking moment when Vitality bested a field of 10 to capture the 89th Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie Race Track on Tuesday. The win sent trainer Harold Ladouceur into the history books.
“This is huge,” said Ladouceur. “I believe I’m the first Indigenous trainer to win the Prince of Wales.”
As a member of the Moosomin and Kikino Metis settlements, Ladouceur said winning a big race like the Prince of Wales is a major step forward for the Indigenous community.
“I’m so proud to be Indigenous. I’m just a kid from tiny little Lac la Biche, but I feel like I’ve joined a very elite group, and to do that as an Indigenous man, it feels amazing.”
Winning jockey Jose Campos said Ladouceur was the key ingredient in the winning recipe that helped him eke out victory against a tough field that included three other horses favoured to win.
“This is a nice horse,” said Campos after the race. “So going in, I just listened to everything the trainer told me, and tried to keep that in mind.”
On the wagering side of the equation, it was the second biggest Prince of Wales Stakes in history, with more than $700,000 wagered on the Stakes race, while total wagering on the 11-race card reached $3.03 million.
The three-year-old Vitality by Street Boss out of Belissimo was bred by Adena Springs for owners Stronach Stables, returned $20.10 for the win.
Heavy favourite Midnight Mascot was off pace and did save some ground on the far turn, but was never a real threat, meanwhile, Pierre, another favourite, was in the mix early on but couldn’t rally down the stretch and dropped back.
Elsewhere on the day, jockey Justin Stein was victorious in back-to-back $100,000 Ontario Sired Heritage Series Stake races. He piloted Frac Amour in the Rondeau Bay Stakes for trainer Julie Mathes, followed by Junior Hot Shot in the Lake Erie Stakes for trainer John Ross.
The Fort Erie racing season continues on Mondays and Tuesdays through to October 22. More information about the season is available at www.forterieracing.com.