Patches O'Houlihan resting after suffering soft-tissue injury

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Reigning Canadian Horse of the Year Patches O’Houlihan was resting comfortably Sunday morning after he was vanned off after winning Saturday’s Grade 2 Highlander at Woodbine.

With Sofia Vives riding for trainer Bob Tiller, Patches O’Houlihan drifted out dramatically through the stretch during his front-running score over My Boy Prince in the six-furlong Highlander on the main turf in which he suffered a soft-tissue injury.

“Bob said he was comfortable through the night,” owner-breeder Frank DiGiulio Jr. said.

Patches O’Houlihan was voted the Sovereign Award for champion male sprinter in 2023-24. The 5-year-old gelding earned a 108 Beyer Speed Figure when landing his season opener in track-record time in the 5 1/2-furlong Thorncliffe Stakes on May 4. He got a 97 Beyer in the Highlander.

“Patches” was scratched from the Grade 3 Jacques Cartier on May 31 after spiking a fever.

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