King’s Plate winner Caitlinhergrtness has earned a well-deserved break.
The heralded filly, named after WNBA rookie Caitlin Clark, wasn’t among the many horses nominated for the $400,000 Prince of Wales. The second leg of the OLG Triple Crown might be held Sept. 10 at Fort Erie Racetrack.
Coach Kevin Attard mentioned Caitlinhergrtness has come out of the $1-million Plate nicely. Nevertheless, that race was her third in seven weeks and the plan now’s for her subsequent begin to be someday in October.
“She’s in good order, she got here out of the race nice and is again in coaching,” Attard mentioned Thursday. “She’s had a little bit of a cramped-up schedule and clearly they’re not machines.
“You’re taking care of the longevity of their careers and we’re attempting to do what we predict is greatest to have her proceed to achieve success and have an extended profession. She’s carried out every little thing we’ve requested . . . you at all times must do proper by the horse.”
Caitlinhergrtness’s ultimate Plate tune-up was a second-place end to Kin’s Concerto within the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks on July 20. That got here simply two weeks after a victory additionally at Woodbine and a part of the choice to complement the filly for the Plate as a substitute of operating within the $250,000 Bison Metropolis Stakes — the second occasion of the Canadian Triple Tiara on Aug. 10 — was to present her extra relaxation.
That was additional prolonged by six days when the Plate was rescheduled to final Friday for security causes following heavy rain Aug. 17, the unique race date.
Which means Wando will stay the final Triple Crown winner, attaining the historic sweep in 2003.
Attard ought to nonetheless be nicely represented on the Prince of Wales as he chases a fourth win within the 1 3/16-mile dust occasion. 4 of his horses — Pierre, Jokestar, Bedard and Airosa — had been amongst these nominated for the race.
Pierre was fourth within the Plate, simply forward of Jokestar. Bedard, named after Chicago Blackhawks star Connor Bedard, was slated to run however was a late scratch.
“When the Plate was postponed, we determined to deal with the Prince of Wales,” Attard mentioned of Bedard. “We figured with the short turnaround, possibly it could work higher for a horse like him.”
The Attard-trained Velocitor received final yr’s Prince of Wales for house owners Al and Invoice Ulwelling.
Additionally nominated had been Essex Serpent and Midnight Mascot, each educated by Mark Casse. A Prince of Wales win can be Casse’s fifth and go away him second solely to Gordan McCann (seven).
Midnight Mascot completed third within the Plate whereas Essex Serpent was eleventh within the 12-horse area. Casse’s different Plate horse, second-place finisher My Boy Prince, additionally wasn’t nominated for the Prince of Wales.
Additionally nominated had been No Extra Choices (educated by Zeljko Krcmar), Passioned (coach Justin Nixon), Vitality (coach Harold Ladouceur) and Wyoming Invoice (coach Catherine Day Phillips).
The Prince of Wales place positions might be drawn Sept. 5. The ultimate Triple Crown occasion would be the $400,000 Breeders’ Stakes, slated for Sept. 29 at Woodbine Racetrack.