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.” 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) 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 Share This:Share
