Frank Di Giulio Jr.'s homebred Patches O'Houlihan stayed undefeated in five starts this year after making every pole a winning en route to victory in the $150,000 Bold Venture (G3) for 3-year-olds and older on the King's Plate undercard Sunday at Woodbine.
Stepping up in class and taking on older, more seasoned competition, didn't faze Patches O'Houlihan one bit in the afternoon's seventh race, one of five stakes contested on the 13-race card.
Under Daisuke Fukumoto, the bay Reload gelding, in typical fashion, broke sharply from the gate and took control of the nine-horse field, leading Old Chestnut, one of three Martin Drexler trainees, by two lengths through an opening quarter in :22:68.
Patches O'Houlihan extended his advantage over that rival to four lengths through a half in :44.61 but soon felt the pressure from both sides as he navigated the turn for home. In front by a half-length at Robert Geller's stretch call, the Robert Tiller trainee continued to fight on and crossed the wire a 1¼-length winner.
Last American Exit, at 45-1, was second, a half-length ahead of Old Chestnut for second. Secret Reserve was fourth.
The final time for 6 ½ furlongs was 1:15.34.
“I looked at the [Daily Racing] Form,” said Fukumoto. “I knew my speed in the race, but you know, anything can happen. I just rode simple, rode good. I went inside and then took the lead. He's only three, right? It was a tough trip for him and he tried hard. He's a nice horse.”
It was the latest impressive outing for Patches O'Houlihan.
Bred and owned by Frank Di Giulio Jr., the Ontario-bred sprint star debuted last September and won in style, a 4½-length victory at 5½ furlongs on the Tapeta. After a sixth on the turf in the Bull Page, he came back with an eye-catching 9¾-length romp at 5½ panels over the Tapeta in his 3-year-old debut in May.
After another win over the same distance and same surface, Patches O'Houlihan stepped up to the stakes ranks and took the Lake Huron (on the inner turf) on July 8 and the Lake Superior on July 30.
“I've got to give Frank a lot of credit,” said Tiller. “We test each other. It's like a marriage. At the end of the day, this is a super good horse. I don't want to say he's a (Sovereign Award champion and Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee) Pink Lloyd, but he's a super good horse. This is a big thrill for me.”
Sporting a record of 6-0-0 from seven starts, all at Woodbine, Patches O'Houlihan, who went off as the 2-1 choice, paid $6.30 for Sunday's win. His dam is the Silent Name mare Maythefourthbwithu.
The post Patches O’HouIihan Wires Bold Venture To Stay Undefeated This Year, Earn First Graded Win appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
