While Honeysuckle Horse racing fans will witness the coronation of a new racing star in the King’s Plate Stakes, the side races on August 17 will feature some familiar names and winners such as War bomber And O’Houlihan Patch returned to defend his title in the day’s ranked events.
Bruno Schickedanz’s War Bomber caused a bit of a stir last year when he won the CA$205,700 King Edward Stakes (G2T). Now the 6-year-old War front This gelding showed courage and determination throughout the long fight to win his second victory.
Video: King Edward S. (G2T)
The win may have dampened his spirits as he failed to replicate that effort in his next four starts, but he showed on July 20 that he was back in form at the right time with a solid runner-up effort in the seven-furlong Connaught Cup Stakes (G2T), the same course and result he used as a springboard to glory at the King Edward last year.
Returning to the mile, where he finished 3-for-6, the Irishman is looking for his eighth win in 25 starts to try to add to his $470,357 in prize money.
Finishing a neck ahead of him at Connaught was Michael Lay. Cruden Bay a 6 year old son Big screen Bred in Ontario, the gelding has won two consecutive starts since trainer Donald MacRae handed over riding duties to last year’s Sovereign-winning apprentice Sofia Vives.
The pair will face new competition in Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable and Peter Deutsch. Filo Di Arianna who entered King Edward’s winner’s circle in 2022.
After that victory, the Brazilians Drosselmeyer The gelding has faced off against some of the best sprinters and milers in the United States and has performed admirably against the likes of Creed House , Emmanuel And Cogburn .
After back-to-back defeats to Cogburn, apprentice Mark Casse returned to Woodbine and showed his class with a 2 1/4-length victory in the Highlander Stakes (G2T) on June 29.
In six starts at Woodbine, Filo Di Arianna has won five times and finished second the other time. His heroics in Toronto have brought him $344,385 of his career total of $527,816 in prize money.
Entries: bet365 King Edward S. (G2T)
HoneysuckleSaturday, August 17, 2024, Race 8
- Class IIT
- 1 minute
- Grass
- $200,000
- 3 years and up
- 4:23 PM (local time)
Speedy Patches O’Houlihan tries to continue his dominance in Bold Venture
While War Bomber warms up for a bid for back-to-back wins at the King Edward, Patches O’Houlihan will cool off after a win that owner Frank Di Giulio Jr. hopes will secure a successful defense of his title in the C$150,000 Bold Venture Stakes (G3) over 6 1/2 furlongs.
Patches O’Houlihan wins Bold Venture Stakes at Woodbine
The Bold Venture is where the Ontario-born 3-year-old pacer makes his official debut to Canadian racing fans, competing against older horses for his first win.
The dream of a perfect season ended in his seventh and final start of 2023, but Reload The gelding’s wins in the Bold Venture and Vigil Stakes (G3) propelled him to the Sovereign Award title for champion male sprinters.
Partnering for the first time with another Sovereign Prize winner Vives, the thoroughbred gelding cruised to a dominant six-length victory in the Pink Lloyd Stakes on July 28 to launch his four-year-old’s campaign.
Trained by Robert Tiller, Patches O’Houlihan has a lifetime record of 8/10 with earnings of $376,234.
For this speed champion to retain his title, he will have to beat an upstart in the sprinting category: Playmea Adjustment .
Run by trainer Josie Carroll for Chiefswood Stables, the 4-year-old Maclean’s Music The gelding has odds of 2-to-2 with a total winning margin of 16 1/2 lengths.
Entries: Bold Venture S. (G3)
HoneysuckleSaturday, August 17, 2024, Race 7
- Level III
- 6 1/2 seconds
- All weather track
- $150,000
- 3 years and up
- 3:43 PM (local time)
