Absolution eyes Prince of Wales

Nominations for the $400,000 Prince of Wales Stakes on July 24 at Fort Erie close Tuesday, and Absolution is pointing to the race, the second jewel of the Canadian Triple Crown. Absolution would be the first Canadian Triple Crown starter for trainer Tony Gattellaro.

Absolution joins the top three finishers from the Queen’s Plate – Wonder Gadot, Aheadbyacentury, and Cooler Mike – and sixth-place Ohio Derby finisher Flameaway among the Prince of Wales Stakes probables.

Absolution won his seasonal debut around two turns May 16 and finished sixth in his most recent start, the Plate Trial Stakes on June 9. Gattellaro said the pace scenario did not set up well for Absolution in the Plate Trial.

“We had the Queen’s Plate in our minds,” he said. “He did run such a good race off the shelf this year. He ran so impressively there, and we gave him a shot in the Trial. I don’t think he ran poorly. I think we were expecting a little bit more pace that day. It just didn’t happen. To see that pace come back in the Queen’s Plate, it looks like these horses are going to be a little more prominent, and I think the pace sets up for the style of race that my horse needs. I know he’s talented, and we just want to take a shot.”

Absolution breezed five furlongs in 1:03.40 on the dirt training track Saturday. Gattellaro said Absolution has a lot of experience training over dirt. The Prince of Wales is run over dirt.

“He’s trained on the dirt a lot for me since Day 1,” he said. “He gets over it very, very well. His dam is by Pulpit, so you would think that it would carry over. He happens to like it. He obviously hasn’t raced over it, but from what I’ve seen in the mornings, his stride is very efficient and he gets over it quite well.”