Two Prince of Wales Stakes favorites scratched at Fort Erie

And then there were six.

Early Tuesday afternoon trainer Mark Casse pulled two of the four horses he had in the field for the Prince of Wales Stakes. One of those was Dynamic Sky, who was pegged at 3-1 on the morning line and the other was Spring In The Air, price at 4-1. The two scratches leaves just six horses to race for the second leg of the Canadian Triple Crown and its $500,000 purse. As of 2 p.m. ET, Uncaptured was set as the race’s 9-5 favorite.

“Dynamic Sky had a little issue pop up yesterday – not a big one, but it was bad timing,” trainer Mark Casse told reporters. “Hopefully, he’s already better today, but we’re just going to give him a few days off and hopefully aim for the Breeders’ [Stakes]. We’re saving Spring in the Air for the Wonder Where [Stakes].”

This news comes after the Prince of Wales Stakes already had garnered a bunch of attention for moving the race’s post time to 7:47 p.m. tonight. Race organizers have moved the race’s traditional post time to 7:47 p.m. tonight. Thoroughbred races are normally scheduled in the afternoon or early evening, but the Prince of Wales Stakes made this move in hopes of drawing a better crowd and wagering handle. These things happen in the horse racing business, but it does force horses and some jockeys out of their comfort zone.

Race horses, like so many of us humans, are creatures of habit. We like to eat at the same time each day and we function best with a consistent bedtime. That’s why Tuesday’s second leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, the Prince of Wales Stakes, could be a real wildcard tonight in Fort Erie – especially after the late scratches.

“We have to make sure we have the right goggles for whatever the condition,” said jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson. “In the fall we have to watch as the sun sets right in front of us as we turn into the stretch during evening and night racing.”

Check out the latest Prince of Wales Stakes odds at Sports Interaction.