The MTH Stakes (Grade 3)- $150.000 Purse
MTH- For Three Year Olds and Upward
One Mile and One Eighth on the Turf
June 17, 2023

There was plenty of talent in the gate for the MTH Stakes, with a few riding good winning streaks coming into the race. This made for a balanced field and a competitive race. After nine furlongs, it would be the most lightly raced horse getting the job done. Wayward Prince is a four-year-old but had only made nine starts up to this point. Four of them had been wins, and now, he will make that five-for-ten! This was the biggest challenge that Angelos Stable had given him, and he showed he was up for it! We’ll have to keep a close on him over the next few months. For Angelos Stable, it is his second win in this race, but you have to go back a decade to find Stealth Fighter’s 2013 win. Jockey J A Vargas Jr is a first-time winner. Congratulations to them! The race was run in a time of 1:45.16, and that sets a new stake record! Let’s take a look at it!

(1/2 Mile- :46.58)- From the outside, Key Ambition checks out to about a two-length lead for Czech Out Farms as they round the opening turn and move into the backstretch. Grand Opening takes second for Riggins Racing, and he is clear by a length over the third place, Choppy Inc- trained B N Broadway, who is riding the rail. Affirmed Authority is next in line for Asgar, with the once-great Sports Page to his outside in the silks of Bomberracing. Cascade King is in the fourth lane here for Nakamura Stables, then it’s Chai Danger, for Wolf Ridge Stables. You have to go back seven lengths from the front to find out eventual winner from Angelos Stable, Wayward Prince, who is clearly not bothered by the early pace. It’s further back to Powervolt Patterson (Patterson Stables).

(3/4 Mile- 1:10.10)- The only interesting horse to watch during the backstretch portion was Wayward Prince, but more on him on a moment. Those who had been in front of him are just riding out this part of the race, with Key Ambition holding on to the lead without any threat to him. From first through sixth, not much going on, but J A Vargas Jr was not wasting any time working on his plan for Wayward Prince. He didn’t aggressively push him forward yet, but moved him to the outside, so he would have a clear lane in front of him for the turn, or whenever it was time to strike.

(Top of Stretch, 1.5F To Go)- Key Ambition leads going around the turn, but he is unable to keep both B N Broadway and Grand Opening from joining him on the lead, and they would look to pass him imminently in the stretch. Cascade King was a in a good spot to go by in the fourth lane, but Affirmed Authority was boxed in right now. He could not move over a lane, because Chai Danger was in that spot. Meanwhile, Wayward Prince was making it happen on the outside, gaining ground and now closing to be within three lengths of the three leaders. Surely, he was one to watch at this point.

(Finish- 1:45.16)- B N Broadway takes the lead into the stretch, but Cascade King was looking like a good challenger to him. For them, if only they had to worry about each other. Making great gains on the outside continued to be Wayward Prince, and with a furlong to go, he was only a length back. It seemed like it would just be a matter of time, but Cascade King did find another gear himself and offered up a good challenge. Wayward Prince answered that, and continued his hard run to the wire, grabbing the win in a stake record time! Cascade King gets second for his valiant effort, and third goes to B N Broadway. All three of these had a race time that would have broken the stake record. Chai Danger was good in the stretch, but that only gets him the fourth-place check. Grand Opening, Powervolt Patterson, and Affirmed Authority are next, then the tiring Key Ambition and the once great but not anymore Sports Page.

About The Winner- Wayward Prince, trained by Angelos Stable and ridden to victory by J A Vargas Jr, is a four-year-old gelding by Sail Away and is out of the late Stormborn. He was bred in California by Mb Stables as a third quarter two-year-old, and was acquired by Angelos Stable in January 2023 with a $32.000 claim. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his fifth in ten starts, and his first stake win. His career earnings are now $224.500. Remember this name!

Track: Firm
Time: :46²  1:10   1:33³  1:45

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 7 – 5 Paid 31.30
$1 Trifecta: 7 – 5 – 1 Paid 400.00

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES