OLG Returns As Title Sponsor Of Canadian Triple Crown

Woodbine Entertainment is proud to partner with the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. (OLG) for the 2021 Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing.

OLG has been a longstanding sponsor of the Canadian Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, providing support for Canada's biggest horse races including The Queen's Plate (August 22), the Prince of Wales Stakes (September 14) and the Breeders' Stakes (October 3).

“OLG's continued support of horse racing helps organizations like Woodbine bring the fast-paced action of horse racing to more Ontarians,” said Jim Lawson, CEO, Woodbine Entertainment. “With their support, we are able to enhance premier Thoroughbred racing events and expose thousands more people to the sport we love.”

“Horse racing has a rich history in Ontario and OLG is proud to play a significant role in engaging existing and new fans with popular events like the 2021 OLG Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing,” said Lori Sullivan, OLG Chief Land-Based Gaming and Business Development Officer. “We will continue to work with our valued horse racing partners, like Woodbine, to drive growth and set the stage for future opportunities with this exciting sport.”

The $1 million 162nd Queen's Plate stakes is the first leg of the OLG Canadian Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing and occurs on Sunday, August 22, 2021. The race takes place on Woodbine's Tapeta racing surface and is North America's oldest continuously-run stakes event, showcasing Canada's top three-year-old Thoroughbreds at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto.

The 86th running of the $400,0000 Prince of Wales Stakes is set for Tuesday, September 14, 2021. The second leg of the OLG Canadian Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing is performed on dirt surface at Fort Erie Race Track in Fort Erie.

Contested on Woodbine Racetrack's renowned E.P. Taylor Turf Course, the final leg of the OLG Canadian Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing is the $400,000 130th Breeders' Stakes on Sunday, October 3.

To stay up-to-date with all OLG Canadian Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing news, visit Woodbine.com and follow @WoodbineTB on social media.

The post OLG Returns As Title Sponsor Of Canadian Triple Crown appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Fort Erie: Again Pushed Back By COVID, Prince Of Wales Stakes Set For Sept. 14

The 86th running of the Prince of Wales Stakes is set to take place on Tuesday, Sept. 14, first race post time 1:00 p.m. The $400,000 Prince of Wales Stakes is Fort Erie Race Track's signature event, for Canada's finest 3-year-old thoroughbreds running 1 mile and 3/16 on Fort Erie's dirt track.

The race is the second jewel in the Canadian Triple Crown, between the Queen's Plate (scheduled for Aug. 22), and the Breeders' Stakes, both held at Woodbine Racetrack.

For the second year in a row COVID-19 has pushed the race from its traditional date at the end of July to September. It is too early to predict if fans will be permitted to attend, or if COVID-19 will continue to impact attendance.

“This event is our most prestigious race at Fort Erie Race Track, and we are committed to running this historic race for the 86th year,” said Drew Cady, general manager of the Fort Erie Live Racing Consortium. “Although we were able to safely host a racing season last year, it wasn't the same without fans. We hope that in the upcoming season we will once again be able to open our grandstand to our loyal fans, especially for our signature day.”

In 2020, the one-eyed Mighty Heart was the Prince of Wales Stakes victor with jockey Daisuke Fukumoto. Trained by Josie Carroll for Lawrence Cordes, Mighty Heart captured the first two jewels of the crown but was defeated on the turf in the Breeders' Stakes. The last horse to win all three legs of the Canadian Triple Crown was Wando in 2003.

Fort Erie Race Track's 2021 season is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, June 1 at a 4:00 p.m. post time, and will run primarily Mondays and Tuesdays through to October 19.

For more information about the upcoming season visit www.FortErieRacing.com.

The post Fort Erie: Again Pushed Back By COVID, Prince Of Wales Stakes Set For Sept. 14 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Mighty Heart Conquers Second Jewel Of Canadian Triple Crown

Mighty Heart made it look mighty easy winning the Prince of Wales Stakes. The one-eyed three-year-old now holds the first two jewels in the OLG Canadian Triple Crown, and if all goes well has his eye set on the Breeder's Stakes in October. The last Canadian Triple Crown winner was Wando in 2003.

Mighty Heart and Clayton were sitting fourth and fifth going into the last turn, with Clayton on the outside. Jockey Daisuke Fukumoto was intently tracking Clayton's steps, and as Clayton made a run for the front four-wide in the final turn, Mighty Heart came to call on the outside and easily took the lead with no urging. Mighty Heart beat Clayton by two and a half lengths. Dotted Line battled throughout and persisted for third, and Bold Victory made a late run for fourth.

“A couple horses went to the lead so I let them go and sat behind them. He can take a little air so I changed up the tactic, and when I asked him at the quarter pole he went on again,” said Fukumoto after the race. “Last time he won very easily, and he did it again today.”

Trainer Josie Carroll said she's excited about the possibility of running Mighty Heart in the Breeders' Stakes. “We always wait to see how the horse comes out, that's the key. He's a wonderful little horse and he gets better every time.”

Owner Lawrence Cordes called Mighty Heart a gift.

”He was handicapped from day one and his future looked bleak because of his injury, but we had faith in him from the day he stepped on the track. We have to see how he comes out of this race, but we would like to compete for the Triple Crown.”

Mighty Heart paid $3.70 to win as the 4-5 favorite, $2.60 to place, and $2.20 to show. Clayton paid $3.40 to place and $2.40 to show. Dotted Line paid $3.20 to show.

Despite being closed to the public and the loss of on-track wagering, Tuesday's Prince of Wales Stakes produced a record handle of $3,028,600, topping the previous record handle under Fort Erie Live Race Consortium's management of $2,188,171 from 2016 when Amis Gizmo won for Josie Carroll.

Tuesday's final race of the day featured a mandatory payout on the .20 jackpot Hi-5, with a carryover of $178,381.93.  $701,151.21 in new money was wagered in the pool, with a payout of $7,657.83 on a .20 cent ticket.

The $400,000 Breeders' Stakes is the third and final jewel of the OLG Canadian Triple Crown, scheduled for Saturday, October 24. The event is one and a half miles on Woodbine's E.P. Taylor Turf Course.

The post Mighty Heart Conquers Second Jewel Of Canadian Triple Crown appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Queen’s Plate Winner Mighty Heart Will Take On Eight Rivals In Tuesday’s Prince Of Wales

Queen's Plate winner Mighty Heart will continue his pursuit of the prestigious OLG Canadian Triple Crown when he takes on eight contenders at Fort Erie Race Track in the 85th Prince of Wales Stakes, on Tuesday, Sept. 29.

After a dominating 7 ½-length triumph in the Queen's Plate, Mighty Heart, bred and owned by Lawrence Cordes, and trained by Canadian Hall of Fame inductee Josie Carroll, will look to continue his winning ways in the $400,000 Prince of Wales, second jewel in the OLG Canadian Triple Crown. On Friday, he was installed as the 7-5 morning line favorite.

Daisuke Fukumoto, who rode the one-eyed Ontario-bred to his stirring Plate score, is back in the irons for Tuesday's engagement for Canadian-bred three-year-olds, set for 1 3/16 miles on the Fort Erie dirt surface. Carroll, who won the 2006 Plate with Edenwold and the 2011 edition with the filly Inglorious, won the 2016 running of the Prince of Wales with Amis Gizmo.

Mighty Heart, who will leave from post two, faces Plate rivals Clayton (third in the Plate), Dotted Line (seventh), Tecumseh's War (fourth), and Truebelieve (ninth), as well as Bold Victory, Enchant Me, Muskoka Giant, and Red Victory.

Some of the sport's top experts have delivered their picks (see below) that comprise the Prince of Wales Power Rankings presented by the OLG Canadian Triple Crown. The Power Rankings spotlight top contenders as voted on by expert horseplayers and racing commentators from Woodbine Racetrack and Fort Erie Race Track, including Jeff Bratt, Robert Geller, Ashley Mailloux, Doug McPherson, Jason Portuondo and Monique Vag. The rankings are based on votes following a 5-4-3-2-1 points system for the top five selections.

Should Mighty Heart, whose Plate time of 2:01.98 was the second fastest Plate run since 1957, emerge victorious in the Prince of Wales, it could set up a possible date in the starting gate for the $400,000 Breeders' Stakes, third and final jewel in the Triple Crown Series, set for 1 ½ miles on the world renowned E.P. Taylor Turf Course, October 24 at Woodbine.

The last horse to sweep all three races was Wando in 2003. Bred and owned by the late Gus Schickedanz, and trained by Mike Keogh, the son of Langfuhr garnered front-page coverage in the lead-up and aftermath of his Triple Crown quest.

First race post time on September 29 is 2:10 p.m., with the Prince of Wales scheduled for approximately 5:37 p.m. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Fort Erie Race Track will be closed to spectators. Fans can watch online or tune in to the Canadian Triple Crown broadcast, sponsored by OLG, beginning at 5:00 p.m. on TSN.

FIELD FOR THE PRINCE OF WALES

Post – Horse – Trainer – Jockey – Morning Line Odds

1 – Truebelieve – Cole Bennett – Keveh Nicholls – 30-1

2 – Mighty Heart – Josie Carroll – Daisuke Fukumoto – 7-5

3 – Dotted Line – Sid Attard – Justin Stein – 8-1

4 – Red Mercury – Paul Lepiane – Simon Husbands – 30-1

5 – Enchant Me – Santino Di Paola – Luis Contreras – 20-1

6 – Bold Victory – Mark Casse – Patrick Husbands – 12-1

7 – Tecumseh's War – Catherine Day Phillips – Emma-Jayne Wilson – 4-1

8 – Muskoka Giant – Mark Casse – Kazushi Kimura – 12-1

9 – Clayton – Kevin Attard – Rafael Hernandez – 5-2

PRINCE OF WALES POWER RANKINGS PRESENTED BY THE OLG CANADIAN TRIPLE CROWN

Horse – Trainer – Points – First-Place Votes

1 Mighty Heart – Josie Carroll – 27 – 4

2 Clayton – Kevin Attard – 23 – 1

3 Tecumseh's War – Catherine Day Phillips – 18 – 1

4 Dotted Line – Sid Attard – 14 – 0

5 Muskoka Giant – Mark Casse – 4 – 0

The post Queen’s Plate Winner Mighty Heart Will Take On Eight Rivals In Tuesday’s Prince Of Wales appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights