Paramount Prince, under jockey Patrick Husbands, bested filly stablemate Elysian Field, both conditioned by dual hall of fame trainer Mark Casse, in the 164th running of the $737,791 King’s Plate, Sunday at Woodbine.
Last time out in the Plate Trial, Husbands put Paramount Prince on the front end and the pair coasted to an impressive five-length score in the 1 1/8-mile Tapeta event on July 23.
On Sunday afternoon in front of a sold-out crowd, it was déjà vu as rider and horse took control from the outset and never looked back en route to another splendid wire-to-wire triumph.
Breaking alertly from post 13 in the 17-horse field, Paramount Prince glided to the front and took his rivals through an opening quarter mile in 23.28 seconds.
Paramount Prince and Husbands continued to call the shots through a half mile in 47.41 seconds, one length in front of Silent Miracle, while looking comfortable and full of energy as they arrived two lengths on top in six furlongs in 1:11.81.
Straightening for home, the son of Society’s Chairman-Platinum Steel kicked it into another gear and dashed away from his pursuers as Elysian Field, winner of the Woodbine Oaks, picked up the chase and tried in vain to collar the leader.
Ahead by 1 ½ lengths at the stretch call, Paramount Prince crossed the line ahead by the same margin. Elysian Field finished 1 ½ lengths in front of Stanley House, while Velocitor was fourth. Kalik, the slight 4-1 favorite for trainer Chad Brown, was thirteenth.
