Prince of Wales lacks Luster, opening door for Military Time
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Monday’s $400,000 Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie lacks King’s Plate winner Luster, but it contains a rising star in Military Time, a son of exceptional dirt route sire Gun Runner who ran a much-improved race in the Plate.
Like all seven of his rivals, Military Time is competing on dirt for the first time in the 1 3/16-mile middle leg of the Canadian Triple Crown. He ran hot and cold in his first six starts for Mark Casse, who trains the $350,000 yearling purchase for owners Gary Barber and Vincent Viola’s St. Elias Stable.
With the addition of blinkers in the 1 1/4-mile King’s Plate, Military Time rallied wide from seventh to finish a clear second over an inside-biased track, earning a career-high 90 Beyer Speed Figure under Fraser Aebly.
“Going into the Plate, I told Gary and Vinnie that I thought we could beat all the colts, but I don’t think we can beat” Luster, Casse recalled.
Casse said the blinkers seemingly made a difference in the King’s Plate and the surface change in the Prince of Wales could be right up Military Time’s alley.
“He wasn’t focusing very well – he was a bit of a clown,” Casse explained. “You would sure think that he’ll like the dirt better than he likes the Tapeta, but until you do it, you never know. It looks like the distance won’t be a concern.”
Casse has won the Prince of Wales four times, most recently with Wonder Gadot in 2018. Aebly, currently second in the Woodbine standings, will ride Military Time, the 2-1 morning-line favorite.
Luster, an impressive winner of the King’s Plate, is currently on a break, with the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland in October on her dance card.
Fire and Wine set a fast pace along the live rail in the King’s Plate before holding on for third, ending up 10 1/4 lengths behind Luster. That was his first competitive performance since he beat Military Time after leading all the way in the 1 1/8-mile Coronation Futurity in late November. Jalon Samuel will ride him again for trainer Zeljko Krcmar.
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Imyourmedicineman finished a troubled seventh in the King’s Plate after a wide and closing second ahead of Military Time in the 1 1/8-mile Plate Trial. He worked well on the Tapeta at Woodbine last Monday, going a half-mile in 47.80 seconds under Luis Contreras, who has won the Prince of Wales thrice. His trainer, Harold Ladouceur, captured the 2024 Prince of Wales with Vitality.
Highwaytothemoon was supplemented for $12,500 by trainer Dale Desruisseaux. Initially thought to be a speedy sprinter, the son of Ransom the Moon won the Plate Trial after an ideal stalking trip before finishing a well-beaten ninth in the King’s Plate. Jose Campos, who won the Prince of Wales on Vitality, has the call.
Keepmypowderdry made quite a splash when debuting in a 1 1/8-mile maiden special weight on King’s Plate Day, Aug. 15. With leading Woodbine rider Pietro Moran aboard, he fought for the lead inside of two rivals before holding off the favored Crystal Pearl to prevail with an 80 Beyer. Trainer Don MacRae shipped him to Fort Erie for an easy half-mile breeze in 50.60 seconds on Aug. 30.
After winning the Grade 3 Marine from off the pace in late June, Brachetto never fired during a wide trip in the King’s Plate. The son of Vekoma is bred for the dirt on both sides of his pedigree, and he worked a half-mile on the dirt training track at Woodbine in 47.80 on Aug 30. Trainer Julia Carey will give a leg up to Ryan Munger, who won last year’s Prince of Wales on Runaway Again.
Competing the Prince of Wales lineup are the improving maidens Auntie’s Bambino and Buium.
◗ There are two six-furlong, $150,000 stakes for 3-year-olds on the card, the Rondeau Bay for fillies and the Lake Erie for colts and geldings. Stakes winners Splash of Bourbon, Souper Diva, and Souper Sporty are among a field of seven in the Rondeau Bay. Pepper Brooks and Humormeastory head a field of 12 in the Lake Erie.
◗ Post time for the excellent 10-race card is 12:25 p.m. The Prince of Wales goes as the ninth race with a post time of 4:36 p.m.
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