Wicked Django catches Paramount Prince late in Grand Valley
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario - In a thrilling finish, longshot Wicked Django wore down the classy favorite Paramount Prince in the stretch to land his first stakes in the inaugural running of the $150,000 Grand Valley on Sunday at Woodbine.
Paramount Prince, the 2023 King’s Plate winner, assumed his usual position on the lead in the about-nine-furlongs main turf event with Side Street pressing him through the turn.
Wicked Django trailed in sixth down the backstretch under Keveh Nicholls before making a three-wide bid into contention entering the stretch. Wicked Django was going slightly best and edged by a stubborn Paramount Prince in the final strides to prevail by a head, in a time of 1:45.64 over the firm ground.
Rapid Test came from fourth to nose out Side Street for third while finishing two lengths behind Paramount Prince. Faber and Naptown completed the order of finish in the race for older Ontario-breds.
“He was just towing me around there,” Nicholls said. “I had so much horse and I was just looking to pick a spot. Coming towards the three-eighths pole, where am I gonna go? And he just carried me, basically. He dug in really hard. Paramount Prince, I got by him and he fought back on.”
Wicked Django ($18.60) earned $90,000 for owner Ryan Brewster and trainer Renico Lafond, who was sending out his third stakes winner. It was the second stakes score for the son of Wicked Strong, who took the Grade 2 Autumn in 2024 with Nicholls aboard when the 6-year-old was trained by Rodney Barrow.
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