story by Chris Lomon / Woodbine
photo by Michael Burns
This story originally appeared here.
Multiple graded stakes winner Paramount Prince added another impressive entry to his sterling résumé, this time in the inaugural running of the $150,00 Caledon Stakes, Sunday (Aug. 30) at Woodbine.
Earlier this month, the Ontario Thoroughbred Improvement Program (TIP) unveiled four new $150,000 stakes races restricted to Registered Ontario Breds, 4-year-olds and older, to be contested at the Toronto oval, including the Caledon, a 1 1/16-mile event run on the main track.
Ontario Bred Paramount Prince broke seamlessly and glided to the lead, followed closely by Saugeen, Wicked Django and Rapid Test into the first turn.
The 6-year-old chestnut gelding, with Fraser Aebly in the irons, continued along effortlessly on the front end, holding a two-length advantage over Saugeen through a quarter in :24.93, while Wicked Django, to the inside, and Rapid Test matched strides a further 1 ½ lengths back.
It was still Paramount Prince in control through a half in :49.25, but Wicked Django arrived on the scene and ratcheted up the pressure soon after, drawing almost even with the 2-5 choice rounding the turn for the stretch drive.
Aebly then called on his charge and the Mark Casse trainee responded in typical fashion, utilizing his speed and stamina to draw away from his rival down the lane on the way to a 2 ¾-length score. Wicked Django finished 5 ¾ lengths ahead of Rapid Test for second. Saugeen was fourth. Runaway Again and Sedburys Ghost were scratched.
The final time was 1:42.98.
“I kind of figured somebody would try and go with us a little bit, but I wasn’t sure which one,” said Aebly. “But [Paramount Prince] handles it so well. He is truly an amazing horse. He carries his speed so wonderfully. He’s a pleasure to ride. He’s always got another gear waiting for you.”
Mike Langlois, who co-owns with Gary Barber, lauded the 2023 King’s Plate winner, whose trophy haul also includes Sovereign Award hardware as the 2024 Champion Older Dirt Male and 2023 Champion Three-Year-Old Colt.
“Some day when Paramount retires, it’s going to be sad because the guy always delivers for us,” said Langlois. “We’ve never had a bad day with this guy. He’s amazing. We love him.
“This all goes back to when Gary bought into the horse. I am very thankful for that because that is what introduced us to Mark [Casse]. It doesn’t get any better than having Mark and his team look after your horse.”
Paramount Prince won his 2-year-old debut in a maiden optional claiming race at 6 furlongs over the Woodbine main track on Nov. 12, 2022. After a 3-year-old campaign highlighted by his Plate triumph, he notched his first graded stakes victory in the 2024 Dominion Day Stakes (G3). One race later, he took top prize in the Seagram Cup (G2).
The son of Society’s Chairman out of the Platinum Steel mare Eddington is now 10-3-7 from 25 starts.
Bred in Ontario by Ericka Rusnak, Paramount Prince was a $21,000 (CDN) purchase at the 2021 CTHS sale.
He paid $2.90 for today’s win.
