King’s Plate day: Filo Di Arianna, Patches O’Houlihan win stakes
Filo Di Arianna remained undefeated over the local turf and probably earned a berth in the Sept. 14 Woodbine Mile (G1) with a gutsy performance, winning by a nose in Friday’s Grade 2 King Edward Stakes.
“It’s just how he comes back,” trainer Mark Casse said when he was asked whether the Woodbine Mile would be the gelding’s next appearance for owners Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable and Peter Deutsch. “I kind of feel if they were going to beat him, it was going to be today. I thought maybe he was about 85, 90 percent. He’s 8 years old. As we get older, it’s not as simple. We’ll see. That’s our target.”
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The one-mile King Edward attracted a field of seven, and Filo Di Arianna was expected to dominate.
Filo Di Arianna ($3.30) did get the money but provided some anxious moments for his supporters he hung on to prevail over game defending winner War Bomber.
Overcoming an awkward start from his outside post under new rider Sahin Civaci, Filo Di Arianna moved up to take charge through an opening quarter-mile in 23.75 and a half-mile in 46.09 seconds.
War Bomber was starting a move at this point, however, and kept pressuring the favorite through six furlongs in 1:09.27. He led by a head at the stretch call.
Filo Di Arianna was not about to give way, however, and hung tough for the fractional tally with a final time of 1:34.07 over good going.
War Bomber was clearly second-best. Secret Reserve was 2 3/4 lengths back in third. Wicked Django, Cruden Bay, Like the King and Kaukokaipuu rounded out the finish in that order. Ironstone was scratched.
Filo Di Arianna is 5-for-5 on the Woodbine turf including victories in the 2022 King Edward, the same year’s Connaught Cup (G2), and the recent Highlander (G2).
Overall he has won 9 of 17 races.
Patches O’Houlihan repeats in Bold Venture
Patches O’Houlihan, a son of Reload, led from gate to wire for the second straight year in winning the Bold Venture (G3).
Twelve months after showing a blend of speed and resiliency in the 6 1/2-furlong, synthetic-track event for 3-year-olds and up, Patches O’Houlihan in rein to Sofia Vives produced a strikingly similar performance.
The bay gelding in typical fashion got away smartly and went straight to the front en route to a one-length lead over First Empire through an opening split in 22.38 seconds.
Patches O’Houlihan was still on top after a half-mile in 44.55 seconds but was under pressure into the turn from home as First Empire and Playmea Tune took aim at the frontrunner.
Ahead by 2 1/2 lengths at the stretch call, the 4-year-old kept Playmea Tune and I’m A Gambler at bay, to earn a neck triumph. Playmea Tune was second. I’m A Gambler finished third. Capture the Lion was scratched, leaving a field of six.
The final time was 1:14.90, not far off the record of 1:14.44 set by Noholdingback Bear in 2016.
“Sometimes I think he’s like a person,” Vives said. “He’s very wise. He knows where the wire is, and he knows how to win. He has a lot of heart. Patches definitely showed today that he’s a champion, and he deserved this race two years in a row.”
It was yet another impressive performance by the bay gelding trained by Canada hall-of-fame inductee Bob Tiller.
“He’s a very good horse, and he’s proved it again today,” Tiller said. “And we’re blessed and very happy to win it, so I’m thrilled. I’m absolutely thrilled. You know we’ll carry on from here. He’s been training really super.”
Bred and owned by Frank Di Giulio Jr., Patches O’Houlihan launched his career in September 2002 and scored a 4 1/2-length win at 5 1/2 furlongs over the Woodbine synthetic track.
He arrived at the Bold Venture off a six-length score in the Pink Lloyd on July 28.
Sporting a record of 11: 9-0-0, all at Woodbine, Patches O’Houlihan paid $4.60 as the 6-5 favorite Friday.
The King Edward and Bold Venture originally were scheduled for last weekend but were washed out by torrential rain that forced postponement of most of the King’s Plate card.