La Cinquieme Essai wins Prince of Wales

FORT ERIE, Ontario - La Cinquieme Essai, the only locally-based horse in the field of 12, struck a blow for the home team with a three-quarter length score in Sunday's $500,000 .

Becoming a stakes winner in his stakes debut, La Cinquieme Essai also ensured there would be no Canadian Triple Crown winner again this year.

T J's Lucky Moon had captured the first leg, registering an 82-1 upset in Woodbine's June 23 Queen's Plate, but faltered to finish 10th here after dueling into the final turn.

Le Cinquieme Essai, trained by Paul Nielsen and owned by Bill Scott of Alberta, was full value for the win under regular rider Brian Bochinski.

Breaking from the No. 11 post in the 1 3/16 mile race, Le Cinquieme Essai moved into contention while four-wide around the clubhouse turn, stalked a solid pace, and bid four-wide into the stretch.

"We'd wanted to be a couple of lengths off the speed, and make a run at them down the lane," said Bochinski.

"At the three-eighths pole I asked him, and he accelerated. I just hoped I hadn't asked him too early."

Le Cinquieme Essai had opened up a clear lead with a furlong to go and was unwavering when confronted by Bravely, to his inside, and Anglian Prince, to his outside.

Bravely nosed out Anglian Prince for second money, with Questing Knight another five lengths back in fourth.

Rounding out the order of finish were Forever Grand, Mister Coop, Shaws Creek, Phantom Light, Fuzzy Star, T J's Lucky Moon, Ford Every Stream and Classic Mike.

Le Cinquieme Essai, who was racing on Lasix for the first time, would seem a natural for the final leg of the Canadian Triple, Woodbine's Aug. 10 Breeders' over 1.5 miles of turf, as he entered the Prince of Wales off an impressive victory in a one-mile turf allowance there.

Now undefeated in three starts this year, Le Cinquieme Essai returned $15.40 as the fourth choice and collected $300,000.

* Sunday's card included a pair of supporting stakes, both at 1 1/16 miles on the turf.

Yatsko, trained by Ralph Biamonte, won the $66,900 Benburb under Christopher Griffith, returning $4.10 as part of the favored entry.

Prospective Gal, trained by Daryl Ezra and ridden by Kristopher Robinson, took the $66,000 Border, returning $9.50.