Queen’s Plate winner Wonder Gadot to run in $400,000 Prince of Wales race
There won’t be a Wonder Gadot-Flameaway showdown at the $400,000 Prince of Wales Stakes.
The prospect of the two Mark Casse-trained horses squaring off in the second jewel of the OLG Canadian Triple Crown took a big step towards becoming a reality following filly Wonder Gadot’s impressive 4 3/4-length victory in the $1-million Queen’s Plate on June 30. Flameaway didn’t run in the race despite being pointed to the Plate following his 13th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby and instead was sixth in the US$500,000 Grade 3 Ohio Derby on June 23 at Thistledown.
Casse said Monday that Wonder Gadot will run in the Prince of Wales, but Flameaway is heading to the Grade 2 US$600,000 Jim Dandy Stakes on July 28 at Saratoga.
Last week, trainer Bob Baffert pulled American Triple Crown winner Justify from training due to swelling in his left front ankle. Justify won’t run in the Grade 1 US$1-million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on July 29 so handlers that originally skipped the race to avoid facing Justify could alter their plans in his absence, presenting an opportunity for Flameaway in the Jim Dandy.