Poulin in O T looks to score in Victoria Stakes

TORONTO, July 14, 2022 – Late race heroics could be in store for Sunday’s Victoria Stakes at Woodbine Racetrack.

A field of six two-year-olds will go 5 ½ furlongs over the Woodbine Tapeta in the $125,000 Victoria. All six competitors have race experience with five having already visited the winner’s circle.

Among those winners is the Steve Owens trained Poulin in O T. The gelded son of Reload is named for Canadian national women’s hockey team superstar Marie-Philip Poulin. The 31-year-old Beauceville, Quebec native has won three Olympic Gold Medals and two World Championships, scoring overtime winning goals in the 2014 Olympics and 2021 Worlds.

Named after a clutch performer, Owens is hoping that rubs off on his youngster.

“Poulin always seems to shine in overtime, so it's a pretty good name and we're happy with it.”

Poulin in O T wasted little time scoring on the racetrack, winning his career debut impressively on June 24 at Woodbine by 5 ¼ lengths.

"That was a good first race. He worked really well coming into the race from the gate, so I knew he could run a little bit,” said Owens. “Our horse handled things really easily. I knew he would run well. How good was he? I didn't know he was that good.

“He's a very laid-back horse in the morning and just does what you ask him to do. He's big and strong. It surprised me with his performance a little bit, but it didn't shock me."

With no secrets now, Poulin in O T goes after a stakes victory in Sunday’s Victoria for trainer Owens and co-owner Empress Stables. Although Poulin in O T’s debut was impressive, Owens is a little hesitant to place high expectations on Sunday’s contest.

"He came out of the race really well. He was a little tired. He ran a lot of that race on his natural ability, I think, anyway,” noted Owens. “I wish this race was six weeks between his first start. It would have given me a little more time to prep him properly.

“I did give him a workout a few days ago and it wasn't what I was looking for. It was a lackadaisical half-mile in :50. I had some company set-up for him - he works better, as most two-year-olds do in company - but some circumstances prevented that from happening. He worked out by himself and it didn't get a lot out of it."

Jockey Luis Contreras, who did not ride Poulin in O T in his first start, has the assignment on Sunday and the pair will break from post five.

Just like his namesake, Poulin in O T will try to come up clutch in the big moments.

“Physically, he's a good-looking horse and he's a big boy."

The Victoria Stakes is carded as Race 3 on Sunday’s ten-race program. Fans can watch and wager on all the action via HPIbet.com or the Dark Horse Bets app.

The field for the $125,000 Victoria Stakes is listed below:

POST – HORSE – JOCKEY – TRAINER

1 – Velocitor – Kazushi Kimura – Kevin Attard
2 – Kaukokaipuu – Jason Hoyte – Tedston Holder
3 – Battle Strike – Rafael Hernandez – Mark Casse
4 – Uncle Jock – Antonio Gallardo – Ron Potts
5 – Poulin in O T – Luis Contreras – Steve Owens
6 – Mikey Bananas – Pablo Morales – Tim Hamm

Poulin in O T will look to follow up his debut win on June 24 with a score in Sunday's Victoria Stakes. (Michael Burns photo)
Poulin in O T will look to follow up his debut win on June 24 with a score in Sunday's Victoria Stakes. (Michael Burns photo)
Mark McKelvie

Mark McKelvie

Sr. Manager Communications, Woodbine Entertainment

 

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About Woodbine Entertainment

Woodbine Entertainment is the largest horse racing operator in Canada, with Thoroughbred horse racing at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, and Standardbred horse racing at Woodbine Mohawk Park in Milton. Woodbine Entertainment also owns and operates HPIbet, Canada’s only betting platform dedicated to horse racing. Woodbine and Mohawk Park are host to several world-class racing events including The King’s Plate, three Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series races, and the Pepsi North America Cup. Run without share capital, Woodbine Entertainment has a mandate to financially invest all profit back into the horse racing industry and the 25,000 jobs it supports across Ontario.

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