by: Jeff Apel

Withers Stakes (G3) winner Harlem Rocker turned back a determined stretch bid by East End Tap and posted a 1 1/4-length win in the $495,400 Prince of Wales Stakes, the second leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, on Sunday at Fort Erie.

Queen’s Plate Stakes winner Not Bourbon, the 1.10-to-1 favorite in the field of seven Canadian-bred three-year-olds, finished sixth. The Queen’s Plate is the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown.

Pewter maintained a head lead in the Prince of Wales through a half-mile in :47.40 and six furlongs in 1:11.98. Harlem Rocker tracked the pace in fifth through the backstretch and gained command three-wide on the turn under jockey Eibar Coa.

Opening a one-length lead in early stretch, Harlem Rocker was quickly engaged by maiden winner East End Tap, who rallied from last under jockey Elvis Trujillo. Harlem Rocker quickly regained command and drew clear in the closing strides to win the 1 3/16-mile race in 1:56.46 on a fast track.

East End Tap finished 3 3/4 lengths in front of third-place finisher and 37.50-to-1 longshot Pronger.

A Stronach Stables homebred trained by Todd Pletcher, Harlem Rocker was unbeaten in his first three career starts, including a 2 ½-length win in the Withers in his stakes debut on April 26 at Aqueduct. The Macho Uno colt finished fourth, 5 3/4 lengths behind Not Bourbon, in the Plate Trial Stakes in his previous start on June 1 at Woodbine.

Harlem Rocker earned his fourth win in five starts and increased his earnings to $445,799. The gray or roan colt is the first starter out of the stakes-placed winning Lit de Justice mare Freedom Come, a half sister to Grade 3 winner Boomzeeboom.

For an Equibase chart, click here.

Jeff Apel is a Thoroughbred Times assistant daily news editor