Thorncliffe an ideal spot for Poulin in O T
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Poulin in O T negotiates his favorite distance in Sunday’s $100,000 Thorncliffe Stakes at Woodbine and could be the dominant speed in the 5 1/2-furlong synthetic sprint for older runners.
A 6-year-old by Reload, Poulin in O T won two stakes at 2 for owner-trainer Steve Owens. He got good again in the winter of 2025 at Gulfstream and here that following spring, during which he won two shorter sprints. He then went to the sidelines after ending up second in a seven-furlong conditioned allowance on May 22.
“We operated on a chip that he had in his ankle, took it out, and gave him eight months off before taking him to Gulfstream to prepare him for this year,” Owens recalled. “We were hoping to get one race into him at Gulfstream, and they wrote us a starter.”
Poulin in O T won that March 23 starter allowance comfortably on Tapeta with an 80 Beyer Speed Figure.
“He had a good winter, came back here, and has been training forward,” Owens said. “This is something we were aiming for and we wanted to give him that one race at Gulfstream. He’s ready to rumble. We’re looking forward to this race. He’s matured into a real racehorse.”
Poulin in O T is unbeaten in three starts going 5 1/2 furlongs.
“He loves the 5 1/2-furlong distance,” Owens said. “He’ll get six and seven against the right kind, but he can run against any kind going five and a half.”
Pietro Moran, who was aboard for Poulin in O T’s last score, will break him from post 5 in a seven-horse field.
G T Five Hundred is making his first start for trainer Dale Desruisseaux after being purchased by Centennial Farms Niagara. He got a 95 Beyer when taking the 6 1/2-furlong Forego Stakes over Turfway’s Tapeta on Feb. 13, which followed back-to-back allowance triumphs there over the same distance. The 6-year-old is reacquiring Lasix off a flat fourth in the Big Daddy Stakes at Turfway.
“We bought him because he appears to be a synthetic specialist,” Desruisseaux noted. “That said, he’s won on the dirt and the turf, so it doesn’t mean he has to run exclusively on the synthetic. A couple years ago, he was running for [$20,000] claiming, so he’s obviously done extremely well and has a lot of talent.”
Rafael Hernandez has the mount and can make the most of G T Five Hundred’s tactical speed.
Go Kart Mozart and Dark Screen both won stakes for Ontario-sired 3-year-olds last year, and both are starting for the first time since late November. Go Kart Mozart, a five-time winner in nine starts, could vie for the lead with Poulin in O T. Dark Screen has done his optimum running from a stalking position.
Stretch-runner Roi Soleil completed his 2025 campaign with back-to-back wins against conditioned allowance company, while Scorching has been out of action since a distant fourth in the Prince of Wales Stakes on Sept. 9 at Fort Erie and has been working right along.
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