Vitality draws away in stretch to upset Prince of Wales Stakes

Longshot Vitality rallied stoutly from midpack to win Tuesday’s $400,000 Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie going away under Jose Campos for trainer Harold Ladouceur.

Airosa and Wyoming Bill dueled through quick fractions of 23.22 seconds and 47.19 in the 1 3/16-mile dirt route, which is the middle leg of the Canadian Triple Crown.

Vitality bided his time while racing about four lengths off the leaders in the two path on the backstretch. He began to mount a wide bid around the quarter pole and then caught Airosa at the eighth pole before drawing off on his left lead to prevail by four lengths in a time of 1:55.72.

Airosa, the lone filly in the 10-horse field of Canadian-bred 3-year-olds, held on for second by 1 3/4 lengths over the maiden Bedard. Passioned, Wyoming Bill, Pierre, Midnight Mascot, Jokestar, Scat Factor, and 3-1 favorite Essex Serpent completed the order of finish.

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“Everybody knows my horse is a little bit lazy,” Campos said. “I tried to put him just behind the pace and make a move at the quarter pole. When I asked him, he responded really well.”

Vitality ($20.10) earned $240,000 in his first stakes victory for Stronach Stables. The son of Street Boss and an Awesome Again mare was coming off a non-threatening sixth in the King’s Plate at Woodbine.

Ladouceur said Vitality will run back in the anchor leg of the Triple Crown, the $400,000 Breeders’ Stakes over 1 1/2 miles on the grass Sept. 29 at Woodbine.

“He has a lot of confidence,” Ladouceur said. “This is a booster for him.”

* Justin Stein swept both $100,000 Ontario-sired stakes for 3-year-olds on the card, taking the Rondeau Bay for fillies on 9-1 outsider Frac Amour and the Lake Erie for males on 2-1 second choice Junior Hot Shot.

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