After finished second to his stable mate in the Queens Plate, Mb Stables’ Burning Approval took over the crown with a narrow victory in the $400.000 Prince Of Wales Stakes here at the Fort, the second jewel in the Canadian Triple Crown.
- Prince Of Wales Stakes – Purse $400.000
- Fort Erie Racetrack- For Three year old’s
- One Mile and Three sixteenths – Main Track
After Blushing Meadows‘ Dont Worry Be Jolly sprinted out to the early lead from the gate, Burning Approval and jockey Robbie Bejarano was having none of the fact that that one wanted to get to the rail. Entering the clubhouse turn, Burning Approval was held just to the inside of Dont Worry Be Jolly until the top of the backstretch, then Bejarano gave him a slight tap and the 2-1 post time favorite would get a head in front before the midpoint of the event.
Being able to stretch his lead out some two and a half lengths with two furlongs to run at the top of the lane, Burning Approval was showing he was the champion horse others said he would be in the future. Behind him the field was now bunched together only separated by two lengths between second and eighth. Dont Worry Be Jolly was starting to tire at this point with a strong effort coming from Piraya ( John Henry ) to his outside. Figured Out ( Mb Stables ) was looking for room between this pair, while Genuine Pleasure ( Nakamura Stables ) was along the rail. A trio of late runners were set down right in behind this grouping.
With a furlong to the wire after the mile was posted in 1:35.71, Burning Approval’s once three length advantage was now starting to dwindle in a heartbeat. A trio off runners consisting of Piraya, Figured Out and a charging Born To Laff ( Joshua Stables ) were closing the gap rapidly. Most of all was Born To Laff who with just a sixteenth of a mile to run, was now within a length and a half, with Piraya in tow to his inside.
Stopping the clock in a final time of 1:54.51( fourth fastest time for this affair ) Burning Approval would hold off Born To Laff by a neck at the line. Piraya would continue on to place third a length shy, while Tourniquet ( Mo Mentum Farm ) and Figured Out would finish in a dead Heat for the final purse share.
The victory here would be win number two for Burning Approval in eight starts, but it should be placing him on a path of further prosperity in his future.
As for Born To Laff, the pairing of him and rider I Ortiz Jr should become a common occurance in future races. Definitely has Graded ability and will prosper with maturity.
Piraya showed what he was made of on the day that’s for sure. Having won a Claiming event and the FON Stakes earlier this year, and with the addition of Talamo in the irons, may find more wins at the Grade III level in his future.
Rounding out the affair were Tourniquet and Figured Out tied for fourth, Mb Stables third entry Salar de Uyuni almost making it a three way finish for fourth but being placed sixth by the stewards. Early front runner Dont Worry Be Jolly would fade to seventh with Genuine Pleasure hitting a wall in the stretch and backed out to finish eighth.
This Date in History-
Mo Mentum Farm- Thoroughbred Double D C would break his maiden coming off the shelf and winning by some five lengths back in 2009. He would go on to win an additional four stakes events in his career, one being the Gr. III Turf Monster Hdcp.
Joshua Stables– All the way back to 2005 and we find a horse by the name of Hrungnir who was coming off an eight length victory in the Gr. III Jefferson Cup after failing in the Derby to place third on this day in the Gr.II American Derby. Not many horses can claim the distinction of placing ahead of the likes of Xray Eyes, but this then sophomore has that honor under his belt.
Duffer
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded
