When the starting gate stalls sprung open in yesterday’s $400,000 Prince of Wales at Fort Erie Race Track, Duke of Love was in search of his first stakes win and less than two minutes later the 3-year-old delivered big time for his partners with a game victory in the second leg of the Canadian Triple Crown.
Duke of Love, a two-time winner before yesterday, was no stranger to stakes company when he faced-off against six rivals yesterday. He had run in 5 prior stakes with his best showing a runner-up finish in the Grade 3 Marine Stakes over the summer on Woodbine’s synthetic track. He entered the Prince of Wales, where he met some familiar stakes foes, following a disappointing effort in the Queen’s Plate three earlier when he finished 8th.
His Hall of Fame trainer Josie Carroll, who had won two Prince of Wales Stakes prior to this year’s running, knew Duke would have to step it up while making his first start on the dirt yesterday but she always has had confidence that the son of Cupid possessed the talent for such a victory if he could just put his mind on running and yesterday her faith in the colt was rewarded.
Ridden by his regular partner, Justin Stein, Duke was engaged early in the 1 3/16th-mile race which was contested over the muddy and sealed main track after a rainstorm hit the area earlier in the day. Duke stalked the pacesetter and race favorite, Ironstone, in the second spot until he took a narrow lead turning for home. Ironstone didn’t fold, however, and was nudging your colt along in close attendance, but Duke of Love proved best and prevailed after a stretch battle for a three-quarter-length victory.
As Josie remarked to our East Coast Racing Manager, Harry Rice, in the attached video, two things were key to this victory: Justin maneuvering the horse to the outside for clear running and the rider keeping busy on Duke, right down to the wire. It was Justin’s first win in the Prince of Wales and the veteran rider triumphantly flung flowers from the beautiful blanket Duke proudly wore into the winner’s circle as he was led by Josie and his groom, Malcolm.
As the second choice, Duke of Love returned $7.10 for a $2 win bet and completed the distance of the race in 1:58.07.
What made the afternoon all the more fun was that we had a large group of Duke’s partners at Fort Erie for this important milestone in his career. Be sure to click through our slideshow above to see his owners cheering with all their might as the colt fought on determinedly to the wire. It was a beautiful sight to see!
We will check in with Josie in the coming days to see how your colt exited his race and will report back. We will also circle back to you with information on obtaining winner’s circle photos from the track photographer, as well as a Beyer Speed Figure once it’s available. In the meantime, we hope you’re still savoring this stellar win.
