Patches O’Houlihan runs away with Lake Superior Stakes
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Well-bet Patches O’Houlihan made short work of his four rivals in Sunday’s $100,000 Lake Superior Stakes at Woodbine, scoring by 8 1/2 lengths under Daisuke Fukumoto.
The six-furlong sprint for Ontario-sired male 3-year-olds was moved from the main turf to the Tapeta, and Patches O’Houlihan made the lead early after taking some awkward steps shortly after the break.
Absolute Chairman took up the chase in second on the backstretch, but Patches O’Houlihan widened his lead throughout the race and romped in a time of 1:09.96.
One Bay Hemingway rallied three-wide for second ahead of Sooner Lunar. Poulin in O T, the 5-2 second choice, wound up fourth and Absolute Chairman trailed.
“He broke okay, but he saw the inside horse and got out a little bit for a couple steps,” Fukumoto said. “After, he went out and did his job. He just ran straight. It was an easy game for him today.”
Patches O’Houlihan ($2.90) earned $60,000 for owner/breeder Frank DiGiulio. Trainer Robert Tiller said he considered scratching the once-beaten son of Reload had the race remained on the grass, which took considerable rain on Saturday morning.
“We were going to discuss that,” Tiller explained. “He got injured on this course last year. We had an awful lot of rain and the turf was soft. I walked on it early this morning and thought it was still pretty wet. We’re just very happy that it did come off, because it made the decision a lot easier for us.”
*** Foolish Games, another offspring of Reload, won her first stakes in Sunday’s $100,000 Thunder Bay for Ontario-sired 3-year-old fillies, which was also moved to the Tapeta from the main turf.
Foolish Games ($9) led all the way under Omar Moreno to prevail by 1 1/4 lengths, in a time of 1:11.06 for the six furlongs.
Hot Cargo edged out Anam Cara for second, while the slow-starting Souper Sinclair rallied outside for fourth. Flowers ‘n Berries finished fifth while the favored Souper Sunday trailed after steadying twice. Tamana was scratched.
It was the first stakes victory for trainer Michelle Love, who owns Foolish Games with Mentec Mississauga Industrial Equipment Ltd. and Big Willow Stables. The partnership shared first money of $60,000.
“I told (Moreno) not to let (Souper Sunday) get an easy lead,” Love said. “I said smack her out of the gate and get going. As soon as she got that :23 opening quarter, we were already heading (to the winner’s circle). This is a dream come true for us.”
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