Despite drifting out, Patches O'Houlihan wrenches out win in Nearctic

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Favored Patches O’Houlihan drifted out badly in the stretch, but got the job done in a determined performance in Saturday’s Grade 2, $283,500 Nearctic at Woodbine.

With Sofia Vives aboard, Patches Houlihan ($6.30) dueled with Bring Theband Home through honest fractions in the six-furlong turf sprint.

Outlaw Kid closed inside from a stalking position to hit the front in midstretch before tiring, and Patches O’Houlihan came back on in the final furlong to prevail by 1 1/2 lengths, in a time of 1:09.49 over the good ground.

Dnabab rallied outside to edge out War Bomber for second, as Outlaw Kid checked in fourth in the 10-horse field.

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The Tapeta specialist Patches O’Houlihan was injured the first time he competed over the grass at 2 and there were lots of anxious moments before and during the race for owner Frank DiGiulio Jr. and trainer Robert Tiller.

“My feeling down the stretch was, ‘where’s he going’,” Tiller joked. “And I’m waiting for him to stop because all day long, the speed was stopping on that turf course. I tried to convince Frank that maybe we should scratch. I would have preferred to scratch him, but it was his decision and he was totally correct.”

Last year’s Canadian champion male sprinter, Patches O'Houlihan earned $180,000. The 4-year-old Reload gelding is now 11 for 13 lifetime, with earnings of just over $900,000 Canadian.

Mouffy takes Dance Smartly

Longshot Mouffy gave Augustin Stables, trainer Jonathan Thomas, and jockey Vincent Cheminaud a stakes double on the card with a victory in the Grade 3 Dance Smartly, after they won earlier with favored Truly Quality in the Grade 3 Singspiel.

Mouffy raced inside in second-last ahead of a trailing Nadette on the turn before Nadette rallied outside to take the lead in deep stretch. Mouffy closed inside and collared Nadette in the final strides to win by a head, covering 1 1/16 miles over the good turf in 1:42.07.

Tax Implications finished third before she was disqualified to fourth behind the rival she bothered in the stretch, favored Fev Rover, who was making her final career start.

Thomas said Mouffy’s previous poor showing in the Grade 3 Ladies Turf at Kentucky Downs was a throw-out.

“Kentucky Downs is probably the one place where you can forgive a horse for not showing up,” Thomas said. “It was a little soft that day and hot. It was uncharacteristic for her to run like that. I just gave it a pass and made sure we got her back on a good turf course. I thought there was a good pace on, she was always traveling on the bridle, which she needs to relax. I thought Vincent did a great job of saving ground, and then tipping out onto the part of the track that’s a little firm. It really accentuated her turn of foot.”

By Uncle Mo, Mouffy returned $30.80 to win and banked $120,000.

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