Little Vic has no trouble with mile distance in Fred Hooper Stakes
?q=100)
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - It took 26 starts before the connections of Little Vic finally tried their horse at a flat mile. It likely won’t take so long to bring him back at that distance again, not the way Little Vic dominated Saturday’s $165,000 Fred Hooper Stakes at Gulfstream Park, leading gate to wire en route to a convincing 2 3/4-length decision over the 18-1 Implementation for the second Grade 3 win of his career.
Little Vic entered the one-mile Fred Hooper off an improved showing four weeks ago when finishing third, just a neck behind 2023 Breeders’ Cup winner White Abarrio, in the seven-furlong Mr. Prospector. It was his first start locally since failing to hit the board in an entry-level allowance race here nearly three years earlier.
Little Vic broke alertly from the rail, quickly sprinted clear and controlled the race throughout under jockey Leonel Reyes. He disposed of the pacepressing Cape Trafalgar on the final turn and repulsed a mild bid in early stretch from the runner-up before edging away to a convincing victory.
It was another 2 3/4 lengths farther back to the 6-5 favorite, Tumbarumba, who raced forwardly placed but lacked a closing response. Rocket Can, upset winner of the Grade 3 Harlan’s Holiday in his previous start, was equally disappointing, checking in a non-threatening fourth, nearly six lengths behind the winner.
Little Vic, who won the six-furlong Tom Fool at Aqueduct in March 2023 for his first graded stakes tally, is trained by Juan Carlos Avila for the Victorias Ranch. He completed the distance over a fast track in 1:36.52 seconds (94 Beyer Speed Figure) and paid $19.00.
“The race before (Mr. Prospector) was excellent, so that’s why we decided to run in this one,” said Avila. “The plan was to go to the lead and look how good he did today with more distance.”
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.