One of the oldest races on the Woodbine stakes calendar, the VICTORIA STAKES for 2-year-olds, is the feature on Sunday, July 17. The Victoria, first run in 1903, will be held for the 117th time (there were a few years it was not held) and it is race 3.
Some of the greatest Canadian horses have won the Victoria including Deputy Minister, Viceregal and Nearctic.
An early winner of the Victoria, GEORGE SMITH, went on to win the Kentucky Derby (G1) in 1916 under jockey Johnny Loftus.
Just 6 juveniles have been entered and impressive maiden winner VELOCITOR figures to be favoured for owners and breeders Al and Bil Ulwelling. The dark bay Ontario-bred had a troubled trip first time out and then won by 7 1/2 lengths in his second race with a big 81 Beyer Speed Figure according to Daily Racing Form. The colt became the first winner for his sire Mor Spirit in that win. Mor Spirit, a son of Eskendereya, was a Grade 1 winner as a 2-year-old and won the Met Mile at age 4.
Kazushi Kimura is Velocitor’s third different rider as Rafael Hernandez, who rode him to his big win, will stay on BATTLE STRIKE, an Ontario-bred by Connect who was an easy debut winner for owner Tracy Farmer.
Poulin in O T will look to follow up his debut win on June 24 with a score in Sunday’s Victoria Stakes. (Michael Burns photo)
Another smart debut winner, POULIN IN O T, a son of Ontario sire Reload, is a homebred for Steve and Beverley Owens.
The gelding is named for Canadian national women’s hockey team superstar Marie-Philip Poulin. The 31-year-old Beauceville, Quebec native has won three Olympic Gold Medals and two World Championships, scoring overtime winning goals in the 2014 Olympics and 2021 Worlds.
“Poulin always seems to shine in overtime, so it’s a pretty good name and we’re happy with it.”
Poulin in O T wasted little time scoring on the racetrack, winning his career debut impressively on June 24 at Woodbine by 5 ¼ lengths.
“That was a good first race. He worked really well coming into the race from the gate, so I knew he could run a little bit,” said Owens. “Our horse handled things really easily. I knew he would run well. How good was he? I didn’t know he was that good.
“He’s a very laid-back horse in the morning and just does what you ask him to do. He’s big and strong. It surprised me with his performance a little bit, but it didn’t shock me.”
“He came out of the race really well. He was a little tired. He ran a lot of that race on his natural ability, I think, anyway,” noted Owens. “I wish this race was six weeks between his first start. It would have given me a little more time to prep him properly.
“I did give him a workout a few days ago and it wasn’t what I was looking for. It was a lackadaisical half-mile in :50. I had some company set-up for him – he works better, as most two-year-olds do in company – but some circumstances prevented that from happening. He worked out by himself and it didn’t get a lot out of it.”
The field for the $125,000 Victoria Stakes is listed below:
1 – Velocitor – Kazushi Kimura – Kevin Attard
2 – Kaukokaipuu – Jason Hoyte – Tedston Holder
3 – Battle Strike – Rafael Hernandez – Mark Casse
4 – Uncle Jock – Antonio Gallardo – Ron Potts
5 – Poulin in O T – Luis Contreras – Steve Owens
6 – Mikey Bananas – Pablo Morales – Tim Hamm
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