King's Plate winners Paramount Prince, Mansetti set for Round 2
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario – King’s Plate winners Paramount Prince and Mansetti will renew their newfound rivalry in Saturday’s featured conditioned allowance with an $80,000 claiming option going seven furlongs at Woodbine.
Over a track favoring speed and inside runners, two-time Canadian champion Paramount Prince outran Mansetti for the lead and never looked back when they met in another seven-furlong sprint at this level on May 2, both coming off the sidelines. Paramount Prince earned a career-high 99 Beyer Speed Figure for covering the distance in 1:22.91. It was his first sprint start since a runner-up finish in the Queenston Stakes when he was on the road to the 2023 Plate.
“I thought he was impressive,” trainer Mark Casse said. “I want to see if he can duplicate his sprint performance. Maybe, he’s found a new niche.”
Fraser Aebly inherited the mount from the retired Patrick Husbands on Paramount Prince then and will break him from post 3 on Saturday in a seven-horse field without much other speed.
Mansetti led all the way in last year’s Plate at 18-1 under then apprentice Pietro Moran, scoring by 2 1/2 lengths with an 87 Beyer. The Kevin Attard trainee subsequently ran second in both the Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie and the Grade 3 Ontario Derby, performances which helped to solidify his case for 2025 Canadian Horse of the Year honors.
Mansetti returned from a five-month vacation May 2. After breaking sharply, he tracked Paramount Prince throughout and wound up 4 3/4 lengths back in second.
“I thought he was in a great spot,” Attard recalled. “It looked like he was going to tip out and give that the horse a run for his money, but [Paramount Prince] was much the best and beat us fair and square. Obviously, that’s a good horse. When he gets the lead his way, he’s a very hard horse to beat.”
Mansetti is drawn outside Paramount Prince in post 4 under regular rider Pietro Moran.
“We might have to chase [Paramount Prince] this time,” Attard said.
Casse also entered the deep closer Lucky Score, who won a 6 1/2-furlong conditioned allowance with a 99 Beyer in October. The 8-year-old has been idle since a troubled sixth in the Dec. 21 Holiday Cheer Stakes at Turfway.
“If the pace is hot, Lucky Score will be tough,” Casse predicted.
Completing the field are Rapid Test, Notorious Gangster, Cool Kiss, and Twin City.
Rapid Test rallied inside to finish a distant third in the May 2 allowance where Paramount Prince and Mansetti ran 1-2. That was his first outing since taking the Overskate Stakes for Ontario-sired stock on the inner turf Oct. 26.
Notorious Gangster has been sidelined since ending up third as the favorite in the 2025 Plate in August. He might need one to help shake off the rust.
Cool Kiss won the Grade 3 Durham Cup in September at 17-1, his only win in seven starts last year.
Twin City won a seven-furlong tilt at this level off a layoff last May before losing his next six races.
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