HORSE OF THE YEAR and Champion Sprinter of 2024 PATCHES O’HOULIHAN won the Highlander Stakes (G2) on the grass yesterday at Woodbine, but in the process suffered a soft-tissue injury and was unable to return to the winner’s circle.
The remarkable gelding by Reload, owned and bred by Frank DiGiulio Jr. and trained by Robert Tiller, already a winner in his one outing this year with a 108 Beyer Speed Figure, zoomed to the lead early in the six furlong Highlander on turf with 2023 Champion two-year-old My Boy Prince in full chase. On the turn, jockey Sofia Vives sensed her mount was starting to drift just as he did on the grass last fall in the Nearctic Stakes (G2) and she leaned inwards to keep him straight.
Patches kept the lead, but continued to drift well out into the course through the stretch while still holding My Boy Prince at bay. He won by a neck in 1:08.39 for a 97 Beyer Figure, but was pulled up on the clubhouse turn and vanned back to the barn. Woodbine reported that the gelding was resting comfortably later with a soft tissue injury.
Patches, who is five years old, will be assessed, but he could be retired from racing.
The Highlander was the 13th win in 16 races for Patches O’Houlihan and he has earned over $853,000.
In the Grade 3 Selene Stakes for three-year-old fillies, American-breds dominated proceedings.
SERENDIPITY a Street Sense filly owned by LNL Foxwoods and NK Racing and trained by Josie Carroll, led all the way to win the 1 1/16 mile test by 2 1/2 lengths under Raffie Hernandez. The filly sped the distance in 1:45.22 for an 81 Beyer Figure.
It was just the third career race for Serendipity, who won her debut at Gulfstream in March for trainer Brad Cox and then was second in an allowance race in the slop at Aqueduct in May. Tiz Her Money, by Tiz the Law, was second for Gary Barber and Somethingabouther, trained by Brendan Walsh, was third.
Woodbine Oaks hopefuls No Time, who was very rank early in the race, Ella It Is and Nata Trouble were unplaced.
Another American invader, FUNTASTIC AGAIN, led all the way on the windy Saturday afternoon and won the Grade 3 Dominion Day Stakes at 1 1/8 miles. Adding Lasix, the Three Chimneys Farm five-year-old horse by Funtastic was returning to an all-weather surface on which he was three-for-five after two dull runs in the Grade 1 Maker’s Mark on turf at Keeneland and last fall’s Mint Millions at Kentucky Downs. Trained by Wesley Ward and ridden by Victor Espinoze, Funtastic Again was never challenged through the race and won by three-quarters of a length in 1:49.28 for a 97 Beyer Figure.
Funtastic Again has won five of 13 races and over $502,000. His dam, Repeta, by Broken Vow, has also produced stakes winner Reliable Source and graded stakes winner Mucho del Oro.
Not including Patches O’Houlihan’s win in the Highlander Stakes in which the gelding did not make it back to the winner’s circle, the other four graded stakes races were won by American owners. None of those owners were present in the winner’s circle.
Wagering on the competitive 10-race card was $6.7 million, down from $7.2 million in 2024.
More News
