TORONTO (AP) Anglian Prince will go off as the 9-2 third choice in the $500,000 Breeders' Stakes at Woodbine Racetrack on Saturday.

Trainer Mort Hardy figures his horse has defied much greater odds just surviving to compete in the final jewel of Canadian thoroughbred racing's triple crown.

The fire that killed 32 horses at Woodbine early Sunday morning began in a barn adjacent to one housing Anglian Prince, the 3-year-old colt who was second in the Queen's Plate in June, and third in last month's Prince of Wales Stakes.

"Had the wind been blowing in the opposite direction, we probably would've lost him," Hardy said Wednesday, his voice wavering with emotion. "We're so lucky to still have him."

Ten horses were entered in the Breeders' Stakes, a 1½-mile race on the turf with the Sam-Son farm entry of Portcullis and Mountain Beacon installed as the 8-5 morning-line favorite. Portcullis has won two straight grass races.

El Soprano, owned by Stronach Stable and trained by Roger Attfield, is the second choice at 4-1.

But the Breeders' Stakes has been overshadowed by the devastating fire that gutted two barns near the backstretch of the racetrack. Only about 10 of the horses killed were reportedly insured.

A trust fund has been created to help horsemen affected by the fire. On Wednesday, the Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, the Ontario Harness Horse Association and Woodbine Entertainment Group each donated $10,000 to the project following a moment of silence held at Woodbine during its race card in honor of the horses that died in the blaze.

The incident is being investigated by the Ontario Fire Marshal's office, which scheduled a news conference for Thursday at Woodbine to discuss its findings thus far.

A barn fire at Woodbine in July 1990 killed six horses and injured 12 people.

The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast or redistributed without prior written authority of The Associated Press.