State of Honor back on dirt in Prince of Wales Stakes

After back-to-back starts on Tapeta in the Plate Trial and the Queen’s Plate, State of Honor will return to his preferred surface of dirt in the second jewel of the Canadian Triple Crown, the $500,000 Prince of Wales Stakes, over 1 3/16 miles for Canadian-bred 3-year-olds on Tuesday at Fort Erie.

State of Honor is the most accomplished horse on dirt in the seven-horse field, having placed in three graded stakes on the surface last winter in Florida. Among those efforts was a runner-up finish to eventual Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming in the Grade 1 Florida Derby over 1 1/8 miles at Gulfstream Park in April.

In his last two starts, State of Honor set the pace in both the Plate Trial and Queen’s Plate before fading to third and eighth. Trainer Mark Casse said the surface switch should benefit State of Honor in the Prince of Wales.

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“He’s definitely a lot better on the dirt,” he said. “I’ve kind of said all along that I think he’s better on the dirt. I just don’t think he gets over the synthetic near as good. When we had him in Toronto and then went south this winter, as soon as we got him on the dirt, he acted like a totally different horse. He gets over the synthetic OK, he just doesn’t love it like he does on dirt.”

State of Honor likely will set the pace in the Prince of Wales, but the question is whether he can stretch his speed over 1 3/16 miles.

“It’s probably a touch far for him,” Casse said. “I think when the dust clears, he’s going to be a really good seven-eighths-to-a-mile dirt horse. That’s the way I read him.”

Prince of Wales, Race 8

Key Contenders

State of Honor, by To Honor and Serve
Last 3 Beyers: 81-82-41

◗ Casse will be looking for his fourth Prince of Wales Stakes victory and his first since winning the race in 2013 with Uncaptured.

Tiz a Slam, by Tiznow
Last 3 Beyers: 90-81-78

◗ He rallied strongly in the stretch to be second in the Queen’s Plate.

“I had a good trip,” jockey Eurico Da Silva said. “I got trapped a little bit at the three-eighths, but it wasn’t much. It didn’t make a difference. The winner would win the same. I was second-best.”

◗ Trainer Roger Attfield said the colt trained on dirt last winter at Payson Park in Florida.

Aurora Way, by Giant’s Causeway
Last 2 Beyers: 78-81

◗ He and stablemate Tiz a Slam give owner and breeder Chiefswood Stable a strong pair in this seven-horse field.

◗ Trainer Stu Simon said Aurora Way bled when ninth in the Queen’s Plate, and the horse will get Lasix this time.

Woodbridge, by Langfuhr
Last 3 Beyers: 76-77-70

◗ He enters off a third-place finish on turf in the Charlie Barley Stakes at Woodbine on July 2.

◗ Trainer Mike Keogh said Woodbridge has been a different horse since switching from Tapeta to turf for his last two starts and could move up further on dirt. “He just doesn’t handle synthetic,” he said. “This horse is night and day on dirt. He’s just worked really good on the dirt. I hope he transfers it to the afternoon, but I think he’ll run big.”

Spirit of Caledon, by Mike Fox
Last 3 Beyers: 86-72-70

◗ He ran sixth and recorded a career-best 86 Beyer Speed Figure while making his stakes debut in the Queen’s Plate after being supplemented to the race. He’s also been supplemented to the Prince of Wales and breezed five furlongs over the track in 1:04.00 on July 18.

Cool Catomine, by Spring At Last
Last 3 Beyers: 79-53-60

◗ He enters off his maiden win at Woodbine on July 2, when he earned a 79 Beyer.

◗ He’s also been supplemented to this race and trains regularly over the dirt training track at Woodbine.

Jurojin, by Giant Gizmo
Last 3 Beyers: 72-49-62

◗ The Kingarvie Stakes winner looks to be on the upswing after earning a career-best 72 Beyer when facing older horses in his most recent start June 18. He breezed over the track July 17, covering five furlongs in 1:00.20.